Tampabay.com
MAY 22, 2009

Insurance Commish McCarty defends his record

The latest in the battle of words between Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and Sen. Mike Bennett comes just a couple of hours after Sen. Mike Fasano came to McCarty's defense.

This time, McCarty is defending himself without specifically addressing Bennett's allegations that he lied and misled the senator about HB 1171. Bennett yesterday called for McCarty's departure after McCarty sent the governor a letter opposing the Bennett/Rep. Bill Proctor bill deregulating large insurers' rates.

Here's the statement just given to the Times/Herald through OIR spokesman Ed Domansky:

"Commissioner McCarty has been in public service for more than 20 years, and he stands behind his record of service to the people of Florida. We will not be addressing the specific allegations made by Sen. Bennett, but it was Commissioner McCarty's responsibility to lay out the possible effects of the legislation. The statements in the letter were consistent with previous testimony and statements to the media."

Here's the Bennett letter, in all its vitriol: Download Bennett

And the McCarty letter: Download McCarty Letter

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