Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has not been gentle in his criticsm of insurers, so how are industry officials responding? Well the answer is, it depends on who you talk to. Here are two very different responses according to Steve Tuckey of the National Underwriter:
Cecil Pearce, American Insurance Association vice president says he understands the pressure Florida’s elected officials are under to ameliorate the effects of high insurance prices on residents, “and we want to work cooperatively with the governor and other elected officials on a long-term solution that all parties can support
Robert P. Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute was less diplomatic; he says “The governor’s feistiness seems to have morphed into an unwarranted cockiness that he will soon regret.” While the governor is bashing insurance companies, “Mother Nature is prepared to deliver a financial comeuppance to the state.”