The phonebooks are here! The phonebooks are here!
Not really, but the League of Women Voters have posted my responses to thier candidate survey and it's up for your perusal. I urge the readership to drop by and kick up the hit rate, review my responses and share your thoughts on the questions of the day.
I find it interesting that Maria Sheffield is complaining about censorship by the League because they did not print her responses to their questionnaire. I do recall that there was a character limit you weren't supposed to exceed and some of Maria's responses look a bit long. That's assuming she actually wrote them herself.
In the interests of fairness and since she already put it up on her campaign website, I'll repost it here for comparison purposes.
From Team Sheffield HQ:
Why are you running for office?
I care about Georgia. Taxpayers need the best insurance options, at reasonable prices, and deserve to be treated fairly and promptly. I care about firefighters, they need a Commissioner who will work with them to investigate arsons and provide service from the state. I care about law enforcement personnel; they need a Commissioner who will work with them on both fraud and arson investigations to resolve cases in an expeditious manner. I care about the victims of natural disasters such as fires, floods, and hurricanes and will get them the relief they need.
From my $19.95 Campaign:
Why are you running for office?
As the Libertarian Candidate for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner I am the only candidate to stand firmly for the rights of the individual Georgian. Libertarians are not just another choice, but a principled solution to many problems presented by organized society. Insurance is definitely one area that can be enhanced by free choice and free markets. As your Libertarian Commissioner, I will do everything in my power to increase competition and lower your insurance rates.
From Team Sheffield HQ:
How can the commissioner better protect Georgia consumers?
I support expanded resources for our local firefighters so they have the equipment to fight fires and pursue arsonists. I also support giving Sheriffs the resources they need to effectively investigate insurance fraud and arsons. Insurance fraud affects all taxpayers and I will enhance our fraud investigation division to fight this serious crime. I will reduce the size of state government: review all aspects of state government; cut those programs or expenses that are not constitutional and streamline all others - government is not a jobs program. I support free enterprise and small businesses: we don't need unnecessary rules and regulations. I oppose new taxes. I will implement Zero Based budgeting, for too long state agencies have been allowed to use accounting practices that run counter to the best interest of tax-payers. I will oppose all policies that are unconstitutional and seek to take away the ability of Georgian’s to make insurance decisions for themselves.
From the Bruce for Insurance Cabal:
How can the commissioner better protect Georgia consumers?
If elected, I will conduct a top to bottom, stem to stern review of all of the departments under the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. I will trash outdated regulations that inhibit insurance companies from doing business in Georgia and ensure that those who are doing business here comply with our laws. I will beef up our Arson Investigation unit and our Fraud Division Unit to make sure that Georgian's are not paying for criminal activity that increases everyones premiums.
From Team Sheffield HQ:
Should the insurance commissioner take contributions from insurance agents and insurance companies?
Georgia law prevents the Insurance Commissioner from accepting contributions from any entity he or she regulates – I strongly support this law. I support the right of individuals to participate in the process and support the candidate of their choice. I was the first and only candidate to introduce a full ethics statement to better govern the Department of Insurance. I will ban all lobbyist and industry paid meals – we must have transparent government that answers to the taxpayers not the insider lobbyists.
From the Secret Underground Libertarian Command Center (LCC):
Should the insurance commissioner take contributions from insurance agents and insurance companies?
My opponents make much of the fact that is is illegal in Georgia to accept donations from industries the Insurance Commissioner regulates and then gladly accept personal donations from people that work in those same industries. I have not and will not accept any donation from any individual that works for any of the industries regulated by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and call on my opponents to return all the donations they have received from supporters that do.
From Team Sheffield HQ:
Georgia ranks 8th in the nation in auto insurance premium costs. Why are we ranked that high and what can be done to lower premiums?
Excess government regulation is one factor. I intend to cut unnecessary government regulations and improve filing processes and procedures so new products can be brought to market quicker. I will work with the industry to encourage more companies to become licensed to do business in Georgia, thereby increasing competition. Other factors are the premium tax and uninsured drivers. I will encourage the Georgia Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement to focus on reducing the number of uninsured drivers in Georgia. I will review all administrative regulations and fees with the intent to eliminate all outdated costs.
From the Friends of Shane Bruce (both of 'em)
Georgia ranks 8th in the nation in auto insurance premium costs. Why are we ranked that high and what can be done to lower premiums?
Georgian's are getting skinned on insurance due to the lack of leadership and good judgement at the statehouse that has not solved Georgia's huge transportation problem. Long commutes and crowded roadways equal high premiums. If elected, I will work vigorously to ensure that vehicle insurance fraud is dramatically reduced, that the currently high level of uninsured motorists driving in Georgia is eliminated and that all Georgian drivers benefit from lowered auto premiums.
From Team Sheffield HQ:
Do you think Georgia should comply with a federal request to create a state pool for high-risk insurance plans?
The federal government failed to appropriate enough money to cover the actual costs associated with a high risk pool in Georgia. This means that Georgia taxpayers would be left with a huge unfunded liability. The high risk pools are nothing but a trapdoor by the Obama Administration to raise taxes and sneak socialized medicine and healthcare into Georgia. I will oppose these and I will use all of the constitutionally authority I have to continue to keep insurance regulated at the state level.
From Bruce for Insurance HQ:
Do you think Georgia should comply with a federal request to create a state pool for high-risk insurance plans?
Georgia created a high risk pool and failed to fund it several years ago. My opponents have seized this issue as a means of stirring up their base supporters by declaring High Risk Pools to be the work of the devil, or worse yet, President Obama. They have completely ignored the fact that there are as many as 1 million Georgians that cannot obtain health care coverage at any price due to pre-existing conditions. Since the federal initiative kicked in on 1 JUL 10, this is a non-issue.
From Maria's website:
What is your recommendation to deal with the uninsured consumers of health facilities?
The appropriate role for this solution is for the free market and Faith charities to take the lead with government supporting them by removing rules and regulations that might hinder their efforts. We should encourage doctors and other health care professionals to donate their time by exploring tax cuts and tax credits based on volunteer time. Georgia must work to create more alternatives to the emergency rooms – the invasion of emergency rooms by people seeking non-emergency care causes costs to skyrocket.
From the unbought and unpaid for Bruce for Insurance Campaign:
What is your recommendation to deal with the uninsured consumers of health facilities?
Cash and Carry health clinics that specialize in under insured and plain old uninsured folks. The majority of the patients that crowd our existing emergency rooms are there because they have no other options. With reduced regulation and elimination of the Certificate of Need system, the free market can develop solutions to this problem that will turn a profit and provide needed care at affordable prices. Big government got us into this problem and just is not capable of getting us out of it.
From Maria's website:
Do you think newly constructed homes should meet minimum safety requirements developed at the state or the county level?
I support the state setting minimum requirements and allowing counties to increase requirements if needed based on local conditions. I support giving authority to local governments when possible and practical. I am concerned about regulations that might add unnecessary costs to consumer purchases and builders without offering tangible benefits. New requirements must have input from local fire enforcement officials.
From a Libertarian perspective:
Do you think newly constructed homes should meet minimum safety requirements developed at the state or the county level?
As a Libertarian, local control is always the best. Each community should be in charge of the standards that govern them.
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