Now, it’s one of the most important races on the ballot.
asserted
it → ’ → ballot
The Palisades and Eaton fires last year — and the insurance debacle surrounding them — made that absolutely clear.
asserted
that → surround → them
Many states appoint an insurance commissioner.
asserted
states → appoint → commissioner
California’s position has been elected since 1990, following the passage of a ballot initiative called Proposition 103.
asserted
position → elect → initiative
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asserted
Sign → sign → California
This year, the campaign for insurance commissioner is the only statewide race between two Democrats, neither of whom has actual experience in the insurance industry.
asserted
neither → have → industry
A recent poll by Probolsky Research determined that 57% of voters were undecided even this late in the election cycle.
asserted
% → determine → cycle
That is because very few people know either Ben Allen or Jane Kim, the two finalists.
asserted
people → know → Allen
Allen is a state senator who has run into term limits.
asserted
who → run → limits
They both tout lofty education credentials, which may or may not be a favorable attribute today.
uncertain
which → tout → credentials
I set out to ask each candidate a series of questions.
asserted
I → set → questions
Allen agreed to a telephone interview.
asserted
Allen → agree → interview
Kim insisted on providing written responses.
asserted
Kim → insist → responses
I was able to ask Allen follow-up questions.
asserted
I → ask → questions
Kim declined one follow-up question and did not answer one of the five original questions.
asserted
Kim → decline → questions
It is always important to ask a candidate why he or she is running for a particular office.
asserted
he → ask → office
Allen said he had been involved in legislation related to the insurance industry in the state Senate, but was particularly moved by his work with constituents who were victims of the Palisades Fire.
asserted
who → say → Fire
Kim stated that “the California insurance system is a disaster.
asserted
system → state → ?
Insurers have given us two choices: raise rates on families or they should exit California.
asserted
they → give → California
Even if they have insurance they delay, deny, and underpay.”
asserted
they → have → insurance
It is an interesting response, given that the government has had a lot to say about how insurance companies operate in California for the past 36 years.
asserted
companies → give → years
When asked what they see as the problem with the current insurance commissioner’s office, neither candidate really answered specifically.
asserted
candidate → ask → office
Allen stated he thought the current market for insurance did not offer enough competition from private companies.
asserted
market → state → companies
He added that we need to encourage more insurance companies to compete in California.
asserted
we → add → California
Kim said, “This is not a healthy economy for hard-working Californians, this is a hostage situation.”
asserted
this → say → Californians
Presumably she meant the lack of choice for consumers, though her precise meaning was unclear.
uncertain
meaning → mean → consumers
When asked to define their priorities, the candidates were clearer.
asserted
candidates → ask → priorities
Kim said: “We will invest some of the billions we currently give to this trillion-dollar industry into making our communities safer from fires.”
asserted
communities → say → fires
Kim did not explain how those billions would be collected and spent.
asserted
billions → explain → ?
The funds appear to come from her signature policy of creating a single state fund to cover all property insurance.
asserted
funds → appear → insurance
In other words, she would eliminate private home insurance and create a single-payer system.
asserted
she → eliminate → system
I did not get a chance to ask her how the state would underwrite excessive losses from disasters like the Palisades and Eaton fires.
asserted
state → get → fires
Both candidates have commented on the failings of private insurance, but neither has said much publicly about the state’s so-called FAIR Plan, the insurer of last resort.
asserted
neither → comment → resort
Kim declined to answer my question about it.
asserted
Kim → decline → it
Allen stated that he thought the FAIR Plan did a disastrous job.
asserted
Plan → state → job
I asked him if he knew the state forced private insurers to cover the losses of the FAIR Plan to avoid asking for money from the general fund.
asserted
state → ask → fund
I cannot believe that Kim knows how badly the FAIR Plan has performed; otherwise, she would not have suggested a single-payer plan.
uncertain
she → believe → plan
Both candidates have a large list of endorsers.
asserted
candidates → have → endorsers
Kim’s primary endorser is Sen. Bernie Sanders, who shares her hostility to private industry.
asserted
who → share → industry
Allen, on the other hand, wants to work with private industry to reward risk reduction in coordination with communities.
asserted
Allen → want → communities
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
