IIABCal Members Visit Capitol Hill

Last week more than two dozen IBA West members joined hundreds of other Big “I” members for the IIABA annual legislative conference. The conference began with a two- hour briefing on issues by Big “I” legislative staff members. The next day, more than 700 agents and brokers gathered for a standing room only breakfast to hear Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) before heading over to Capital Hill for appointments.

The conference provides agents and brokers with an up-close and personal view of how the legislative process works.

“The Big “I” Legislative Conference was truly an eye-opening experience,” said Taylor Armitage, White Sutton & Company Insurance Services, Santa Monica. “I did not understand the importance of our organization until I hit Capitol Hill. I gained a better perspective of the legislative processes and the importance of education and keeping up with the issues that affect our clients and businesses every day.”

IBA West members met with 13 members of the California Congressional delegation including staff from both Senators Boxer and Feinstein’s offices.  They discussed four major issues targeted by the Big “I”: removing agents and brokers’ fees from the medical loss ratio in the new healthcare overhaul; long term re-authorization of the national flood insurance program; support of the NARAB I, the federal program to simplify state licensing requirements; and opposition to federal oversight of the insurance industry. In addition, IBA West members offered their services to legislative staff for constituents with insurance questions and access to the local small business community.

IIABA and IBA West appreciates the following members who took time away from their offices to participate in this important annual national event.  

Taylor Armitage, White Sutton & Company Insurance Services, Santa Monica; Jim Armitage, Arroyo Insurance Services, Inc., Arcadia; Jon Axel, Hub International of California Ins Svcs, Inc., Culver City;  Alice Cameron, Fireman's Fund, Novato; Denny Christner, BayRisk Insurance Brokers, Inc., Alameda; Jeff Craig, John O. Bronson Co., Inc. – Monterey; Dana Dattola, Weaver & Associates. Arcadia; Rick Dinger, Crescenta Valley Insurance, La Crescenta; Mike Fausone; SCIF, Fresno; Nate Flandro, Barlocker Insurance Services, Fresno; Joe Hamilton, Hal Rakowski Insurance Lakeside; Darren Hasson, Whns Insurance Agency, LLC, Encino; Holly Heurkins, Crescenta Valley Insurance, La Crescenta; Michelle Jackson, Bolton & Company, Pasadena; Joe Martin, DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC, Bakersfield; Stefanie McLeod, Monarch E & S Insurance, La Crescenta; Brian O'Farrell, Walter L. Clark & Associates, Fresno; Brandon Okita, FIA Insurance Services, Inc.,  Pasadena; Eric Rothman, C M Meiers Company, Woodland Hills; Brad Rutt, Elkins-Jones Insurance Agency, Inc., Los Angeles; Brooke Skeen, Excel Bonds & Insurance Services, Sacramento; Heath Sheppard, Sheppard & Associates Insurance Agency, Roseville; Gina Willard, GNW-Evergreen Insurance, Encino; and Jim Wood, DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC, Fresno.

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