Life Insurance

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, state Insurance Commissioner George Dale has the duty of regulating insurance companies that are denying claims to Mississippi policyholders based on the "wind versus water" damage controversy.

Policyholders who voted for Dale are crying out for relief. Dale, records examined by The Clarion-Ledger last week reveal, has taken almost $50,000 in campaign donations from the insurance industry he regulates over the course of the last two elections.

There's not one scintilla of evidence that Dale has acted improperly or that he is not representing the taxpayers to the best of his ability. But the appearance of impropriety is undeniable.

Mississippi law allows insurance companies to donate campaign money to the insurance commissioner. The law also allows bond attorneys, road pavers and equipment salesmen to donate to transportation commissioners, farmers and pesticide manufacturers to donate to the agriculture commissioner and county supervisors and mayors to donate to the state auditor.

Lawyers trying cases before the state Supreme Court can donate directly to the justices. The list is endless — and so is the possibility for the appearances of impropriety.

The brutal truth is that people don't care about such appearances until their personal or political ox is being gored. If Mississippians want more pristine relationships between the politicians who regulate and the various industries or individuals to be regulated, then Mississippians will have to change the campaign finance laws.

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