Would Louisiana be better served by an appointed insurance commissioner instead of an elected one? It is an idea that will be floated at the capitol.
State Senator Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge), chair of the Senate Insurance Committee, says a dedicated professional, instead of a politician, could be better.
"We need a regulator," Talbot said. "We need with experience to come in here and have the freedom to make the hard decisions and take the politics out of that office."
Talbot says he hasn't written the bill yet, so the details of exactly how the new commissioner would be selected, and could be removed, have not been worked out yet. But he says adding some insulation between that position and politics could better serve Louisianans.
The current insurance commissioner, Jim Donelon, is retiring at the end of this term. Even though he is on his way out, Donelon says the job should remain accountable to voters.
"It is the voice of the people," said Donelon. "I very much disagree with his proposal."
Donelon, who has served in the role since 2006, says states that appoint their commissioners have a high rate of turnover.
"It's no way to run something as sophisticated, complicated, and really vital on a three year tenure at a time," he said.