Garamendi Does Labor Day Visits; Mendoza Meets with Brokers, Contractors

Democratic Insurance Commissioner candidate John Garamendi joined thousands of workers by participating in a number of Labor Day activities throughout California earlier this month.

“I am pleased once again to share Labor Day with thousands of California workers,” Garamendi said. “These men and women are the engine of this state’s economy. As Insurance Commissioner, I plan to devote my energy to giving them the best workers’ compensation, healthcare, and auto insurance system in the country.”

Garamendi, who made appearances in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area, attended a number of events with numerous other elected officials, labor leaders, and Democratic candidates.

• A group of 25 insurance brokers and contractors recently met with Republican Insurance Commissioner candidate Gary Mendoza to discuss rising liability insurance rates in the Inland Valley, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The increasing rates and in some cases, inability to get a policy, has reportedly sent some contractors out of business and will ultimately determine rates to build new homes, said the group.

They are pushing for state legislation to allow homeowners to go through an arbitration process to get their homes repaired by the builder instead of first going to the courts. Current California law holds contractors liable for construction defects for 10 years.

The past couple of years have seen an increase in lawsuits, according to contractors, who also allege that large insurance companies are either no longer offering policies or are charging up to
six times more than they were previously.