Sen. Nickles to Address IIABA Insiders’ Luncheon

January 30, 2004

Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.), who is spearheading the fight for common-sense asbestos litigation reform in the Senate, will speak to national leaders of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) during the association’s annual Insiders’ Luncheon on Capitol Hill.

The luncheon will be held April 20, immediately prior to the start of the Big “I” 27th annual National Legislative Conference. Luncheon participants will include Big “I” Executive Committee members, Government Affairs Committee representatives, as well as agent and broker leaders from Nickles’ home state of Oklahoma.

Annually, more than 800 independent agents and brokers participate in the National Legislative Conference, and similar attendance is expected this year. This year’s event will take place April 21-23 at the Capitol Hilton. Additional leading political speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.

“We are very pleased to have Sen. Nickles as the speaker at our Insiders’ Luncheon,” said IIABA CEO Robert Rusbuldt. “The senator has led the fight to bring common sense to asbestos litigation, which is out of control, and he has also been a proven and consistent leader on health care, tax and small business issues. Our association’s leaders will be very interested in his insights on all these issues, and we are thrilled to have him at our meeting.”

Nickles last year introduced S. 413, a bill that would establish medical criteria for asbestos claims. The recent claims explosion has been driven largely by people who have little or no impairment. Nickles’ bill would ensure that only the claims of sick individuals are addressed.

Nickles, first elected to the Senate in 1980 at age 31, is serving his fourth and final term; he is retiring at the end of this Congress. In 1998, he became the first Republican ever to win a fourth term to the Senate from Oklahoma. Nickles is the first Oklahoman to serve as chairman of the powerful Senate Budget Committee, and he also serves on the Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, and Rules and Administration Committees. Nickles also has the distinction of having held the highest leadership position of any Oklahoma senator, having been elected in 1996 and 1998 as assistant Republican leader. He started his political career in the Oklahoma State Senate in 1978.

Highlights of the Big “I” National Legislative Conference will include an in-depth issues briefing session; the annual Big “I” congressional reception on Capitol Hill; appearances by numerous high-profile speakers discussing important insurance and national issues confronting lawmakers as well as agents and brokers in Washington, D.C.; and hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill between Big “I” agents and brokers and lawmakers.

The conference provides an opportunity for agents and brokers to discuss important issues with their congressional representatives. Top issues this year include insurance regulatory modernization, tort reform, passage of a flood insurance reform bill, and changes in the tax treatment of intangible assets.

To register online and for hotel reservations go to www.independentagent.com and select the “Events and Conferences” link. You also can obtain downloadable copies of the event registration and hotel reservation forms at this section.

Topics Legislation Agencies Oklahoma

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