Insurance Commissioner-Elect Sets Goals

Insurance Commissioner-elect Steve Poizner (R) on Wednesday said he would like to enact a ban on industry contributions to future candidates for the position, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In outlining goals for his term as insurance commissioner, Poizner also said that he would like to reduce insurance rates and win approval in the Legislature for making the insurance commissioner a nonpartisan office. Poizner said he would target insurance fraud, beginning with hiring more fraud investigators to fill current vacancies (Martelle/Bailey, Los Angeles Times, 11/9).

Poizner, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, won 50.6% of the vote Tuesday. His opponent, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante (D), received 38.9% of the vote (California Healthline, 11/8).