As lawmakers continue to debate a $45-million incentive fund to help Louisiana’s property insurance crisis, House Democrats call for transparency and accountability from the Republican led Department of Insurance.
Democratic Caucus Chairman Sam Jenkins says the state’s insurance problems all came to be under Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s watch.
“It falls squarely in his parameter of responsibility to make sure that these issues are being looked at in a timely manner.”
Jenkins says lawmakers need to assure the Insure Louisiana Fund, if approved, is a good use of taxpayer money.
He says they also need to have some tough conversations going forward “about how we have allowed the insurance crisis to develop to the point that it’s at…and the fact that we are now having to address it.”
Nearly two dozen companies have either gone out of business or stopped writing policies in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida. That's left homeowners struggling to find affordable options or forced to the state's insurer of last resort, Citizens' Insurance. Several analysts say it has become too expensive for many companies to operate in the state without incentives.
Jenkins and the Democratic Caucus feel the Insurance Commissioner should be held accountable for the state’s current insurance mess, and – perhaps – a change of leadership at the Department of Insurance is warranted.
“I believe that, ultimately, that’s going to be left up to the people of this state; as to whether or not his services are something that they want to keep going.”
Jenkins says he’d personally like to see a Democrat challenge Donelon this fall, and see Democrats run for every state office.
