With the results of the California gubernatorial recall election entirely clear (albeit still unofficial), Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi is not wasting any time in making a public show of adapting to the new administration. Today, the Commissioner issued An Open Letter to Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. Expressing the Commissioner's "congratulations and best wishes" for the governor-elect, the letter focuses on the leading current insurance issue in California:
As you are aware, the Legislature and Governor Davis passed a new law based on my road map to reform of the workers’ compensation system. This law is but the first step in the process to total reform and will reduce claims costs by $4 billion to $6 billion. Because it is imperative that we take step two immediately, we are already working with business and labor to structure the required reforms. Obviously, it is critically important to have your leadership and direct involvement in drafting and passing the legislation necessary to accomplish the second phase of overall system reform. I would, therefore, like to meet with you to discuss our current direction as soon as possible during your transition.There are many other insurance issues facing business and individual insurance consumers in California and I look forward to briefing you and working together to resolve them.
An actual olive branch or only an amazing simulation? Time will tell, and we will report when it does.
Coming up: reports on some of the new legislation signed into law by Gray Davis on his way to his recall and exit.
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