Insurance Lobby Contributions

The news article (Sept. 16) on the insurance lobby was most revealing. Listing the contributions made to the political campaigns of Gov. George Deukmejian and members of the Legislature by the insurance industry the reason for the lack of real insurance reform becomes clear.

Insurance reform is long overdue. Premiums for car insurance, homeowners’ insurance and malpractice insurance, just to mention a few, are at an all-time high and still climbing.

Horror stories of insurance companies’ handling of claims abound--ask almost any claimant. Nothing will be done, however, as long as candidates for public office and incumbents are allowed to receive fat contributions from the insurance industry.

The high cost of running for public office makes it increasingly difficult for most qualified Americans to do so without financial assistance. As a result we see a steady escalation in the number of millionaires and unprincipled hacks being elected to public office--and, of course, no insurance reform.

Will Rogers once said, “We have the best government money can buy.” Thanks to the existence of the insurance lobby, other big money lobbies, and Political Action Committees (PACs), this is all too true today.

Perhaps, in order to save truly representative government, stronger legislation is needed to outlaw campaign contributions from PACs and corporations to political candidates and incumbents. This, together with public funding of candidates for public office and a legal limit on campaign expenditures, would have the added benefit of forcing candidates to go out and talk to the people directly instead of hiding behind slick, professionally prepared media advertisements.

PACs and lobbies such as the insurance lobby are, too often, nothing more than conduits for legalized graft. The sooner such money is eliminated from our political system, the sooner we will have real insurance reform and other much-needed legislation to benefit the American consumer.

MORTON BASSIN

Northridge