The Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1318, legislation that would allow the governor to appoint the state’s insurance commissioner beginning in 2008. According to the New Orleans-Times Picayune the bill by Rep. Tony Perkins, R-Pride, was approved on a 7-4 vote.
The committee also approved HB 638, which would allow voters to decide on a proposed change in the state Constitution making the job appointive.
The Legislature could abolish the job with a two-thirds vote under state law but Perkins reportedly favors letting voters decide. If approved by the Legislature, the proposal to change the commissioner’s office to an appointed would be placed on the ballot for the Oct. 4 primary.
Perkins has said motivation for the change to an appointed commissioner is to combat the impression of corruption in the elective office. Before Commissioner Robert Wooley took command of the office, the three commissioners in a row received prison sentences for charges related to their positions as head of the insurance department.
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