Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Insurance commission candidates debate

Insurance commission candidates debate

Oct 16, 2008 - 14:05:15 CDT

By JAMES MacPHERSON
Associated Press Writer

North Dakota's candidates for insurance commissioner agree that protecting the consumer is their top priority but disagree over who best can get it done.

Republican Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm and Democratic challenge Jasper Schneider, both Fargo lawyers, traded jabs throughout an hour-long debate Wednesday night.

Hamm said that with a GOP-controlled state Legislature, he's the one more likely to make progress.

Schneider, a state representative from Fargo, called that notion hogwash. He said he has co-sponsored bipartisan proposals and partisanship is "no way to move forward."

Hamm is seeking his first elected term after he was appointed last year to succeed Jim Poolman, who resigned.

Schneider said North Dakotans want a chance to elect an insurance commissioner. "Standing up for people is what I do," he said.

The candidates were asked if they thought the commissioner should appear in a consumer advertisement four months before an election. Schneider said the commissioner should deliver a message, "but there is a tasteful way to do it," and not immediately prior to an election.

He called Hamm's appearance in an ad designed to help senior citizens "blatantly in your face and political."

Hamm said the commissioner should appear in ads at any time, and he said the only thing political about the ad aimed at seniors was the "partisan criticism that followed."

Both men said they support a proposal to put control of the state workers compensation agency under the governor. Schneider said he would support privatization as an option "only because things have gone so haywire."

Hamm did not say whether he supported privatization. "I think we can fix the system we have, but I think all the issues need to be on the table," he said.

Schneider cited his background as an attorney for injured workers and said he would be "ethical, transparent and tough."

Hamm said his philosophy is to be a "fair and consistent regulator." He said North Dakotans need to be treated more fairly in Medicare reimbursement. They also must "get healthy, ourselves," he said.

Hamm called the state's largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, a "monopoly that's not working" and that as the state insurance commissioner, he would watch the insurer "like a hawk." He rejected two recent Blues requests for rate increases.

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Comments

Online Editor wrote on Oct 24, 2008 8:45 AM:

" To Cat: All stories that have been published online can be found in our archive. Use the search box at the top right of the page. "

cat wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:48 AM:

" To online editor: Carol pointed out one fact - what happened to the missing blog about the Deputy Commissioner making more than the Commissioner? That's a fact that's verifiable. All state wages are public information. "

cat wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:46 AM:

" A very interesting article about Hamm that points out many facts - http://www.northdecoder.com/index.php/Accounting-101-For-Adam-Hamm.html
But the heart of the matter is the last paragraph of that article:
Ok, so Hamm isn't the guy you want as your accountant. Fair enough. Why though, should I trust him to be insurance commissioner if he cant be trusted to do his paperwork properly? All of this goes to a larger point though: Adam Hamm simply doesn't care. He just wants a cushy job. He's spent most of his career trying to get a promotion. He wanted to be a judge, then he wanted to be tax commissioner, he wanted to be insurance commissioner, and since he couldn't get elected, he got Hoeven to appoint him so that Jim Poolman could go lobby for the insurance industry. Then when he gets his cushy job he doesnt do what we pay him to do. He spends your money to get his face on TV 90 days before an election, and now he doesn't even have the time to sit down and fill out a simple form. Adam Hamm just doesn't care. Frankly, the state Republican Party doesnt care. Not about you and me at least. "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:14 AM:

" To Carol: Generally, it's not what you say, but how you say it. Other things that will get your comment deleted are adding the classic "I heard" and other unsupported facts. If you think we are supporting some type of conspiracy, you are wrong. "

Carol wrote on Oct 23, 2008 11:29 PM:

" Deb, if you have anything to say that is negative about Hamm or Ternes, the Tribune will not post it. I see Hamm is trying to get his mitts in all kinds of stuff, where he shouldn't be, including the Bismarck Tribune. They won't post my comments either. You have to be for Republicans or forget it. "

Law wrote on Oct 23, 2008 4:10 PM:

" Schneider is Conrad's little golden boy, hand picked as the future. He could care less about the insurance commission position as it is only a stepping stone for the future runs at higher office. The insurance commissioner has no control over WSI and unless the legislature passes a law to the contrary the insurance office never will. "

Deb wrote on Oct 23, 2008 3:49 PM:

" la: ??????? your post is rather difficult to understand. and the word is "moot" not "mute"

But, basically, what you're trying to do is to sway votes away from Jasper because you think that if elected he will collude with his former law firm to still defend injured workers while using his elected office to reform WSI so that it treats injured workers more fairly, which will actually mean that his former law firm will be needed less and less to defend poorly treated injured workers, lowering their profits, which will mean less illigal funds will flow to Jasper.

Gotcha.

So you're anti-injured worker, pro-WSI and pro-Hamm.

Gotcha. "

LA wrote on Oct 23, 2008 1:37 PM:

" Re: to Deb: Jasper's campaign literature has been promising the citizens of N.D. if elected that auditing WSI will be one of his new ballot issue since (Nov, 2007). So Deb are you telling us that Jasper's campaign promises "WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL". So what other issues will Jasper not be able to deliver. Last, regarding the potential "conflict of interest". The rest of the Schneider law firm is still "IN THE FAMILY" so the idea of where the profits goes is rather mute. Any competing business would love to have an inside pipeline. Interesting again! "

Deb wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:35 AM:

" So, I provided the background, but still my comment wasn't posted.... anyhoo...

la: my main point was to say to you that the Insurance Commissioner, as of right now and until the legislature or the electorate gives him/her the power, has no oversight of WSI - so there is no conflict of interest between the office and Schneider's firm. When Jasper proposed, in a debate, that the Ins Commish has more oversight, does not make that a reality.

My other question was asking if the Insurance Commish was a full time job - i.e. Jasper will no longer be a partner in his firm once he gets the new job. And if that is so - and even if he gains more oversight of WSI - doesn't that mean that the conflict is erased? "

Susan wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:31 AM:

" Schneider was abysmal in the debate. He doesn't know insurance, he apparently made no attempt to learn it to run for this office, and he is a horrible debater and speaker. Thanks to the debate for solidifying that I am voting for Hamm. "

Deb wrote on Oct 22, 2008 12:04 PM:

" online editor: here's a link to the specific story on the website where I read about Hamm missing meetings: http://www.northdecoder.com/index.php/Green-Absent-Hamm.html
If you click on the hyperlink that says "It's 78%" it will take you to a pdf of the minutes of the State Investment Board.

In a later blog post (http://www.northdecoder.com/index.php/Adam-Hamm-s-Attendance-Record-Gets-Worse.html) the same website explains how Mr. Hamm missed yet another SIB meeting.

Wow - that's a lot of explaining to do for an allegation I didn't even bring up on this comment forum... ;) "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 22, 2008 11:07 AM:

" To Deb: Please provide attribution for your statistic. "

Dennis wrote on Oct 22, 2008 8:16 AM:

" I really dont understand "Deb" on one hand she says he should attend meetings at WSI then when she gets confronted with the fact that Schnieder as commisioner would be conflict of interest she says "the offfice doesnt have any control over WSI" so Deb which is it? You seem to have no clue on what youre talking about. Just my opinion......Oh and by the way if i was undecided before, and after last nights debate there is ABSOLUTLY no way i will vote for Schnieder. In my opinion he has not a clue one what he is doing only what the pullers of his puppet strings are telling him........VOTE HAMM its your best bet. "

la wrote on Oct 22, 2008 7:57 AM:

" re: to deb: Business 202 coming up. Jasper said in an open TV debate (channel 12) that his firm (FOR PROFIT) represents workers against WSI. Class begins Deb, Business 202 (for profit). Jasper is proposing oversight authority on WSI if he is elected by auditing their insurance books. An audit would reveal how much money is paid out to "OTHER FOR PROFIT LAW FIRMS". Hopefully Deb you will be able to understand this simple logic. Get It. Interesting again! "

i will say it again wrote on Oct 21, 2008 2:52 PM:

" Mr. Pomeroy was not standing in front of a waving United States flag showing off the vehicles. Mr. Hamm was standing in front of a waving United States flag talking about seniors and prescription drugs. Why did he need to make it so obvious. He wanted to look patriotic and use this moment to educate and campaign at the same time. I had the lucky experience of paying for a Republican advertisment for Insurance Commissioner with my tax dollar. "

DennisB wrote on Oct 21, 2008 12:28 PM:

" This ad thing is silly. Following a similar line of thinking, everyone should be up in arms over the the article in today's Tribune of the ND congressional delegation getting two vehicles for the VA? Obvious pandering for votes Mr. Pomeroy. The timing seems suspicious to me. I suspect those vehicles were part of last year's appropriations but we hear about it now with days until the election... "

Deb wrote on Oct 21, 2008 11:57 AM:

" la: clearly you need a basic law 101 lesson. The Insurance Commissioner has no oversight to WSI. The commission sits on the State Investment Board and that's about as close as they get to anything doing wtih WSI.

So, yeah - maybe it's an easy answer, but the opposite of what you said: there is NO conflict of interest. "

Interested wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:05 PM:

" For Hamm missed meetings:

I encourage you to vote for whomever you choose, but don't insult my intelligence by using the missed WSI meeting reason. Currently the comissioner has no authority over the WSI board (empahsize none). He won't even if measure 4 passes. The comissioner sits on the State Investment Board (SIB) along with other elected officials whose sole function is to exeucte the investment policy of the various pools of money invested by the state. They don't even set the policy-the agencies who own the money do. The SIB has no oversight authority over any agency whose money they invest. The financial results acheived by SIB implementing the policy set by the WSI Board for its part of the pool with or without the attendance of one member have met and exceeded guidelines established by the WSI board. Not sure where you got your facts, but maybe you should check them again before posting. "

la wrote on Oct 20, 2008 1:05 PM:

" To Deb: Its as a pretty basic answer to your question. THE FAMILY OWN's THE LAW FIRM. "GET IT". Interesting again! "

Independent wrote on Oct 20, 2008 11:58 AM:

" Why do we need a lawyer in the first place to run the Insurance Department? Wouldn't we be better off, having an actual insurance agent running this office? Someone that actually deals with insurance and is a licensed agent in ND. "

Deb wrote on Oct 20, 2008 11:22 AM:

" la: explain how Jasper being Ins Commish makes the other lawyers in his firm have a conflict of interest in WSI cases. "

la wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:31 AM:

" To Deb: Straighten me out on one problem with Jasper's law firm. Jasper said that his law firm represents the injuried worker against WSI. Does that mean Jasper's firm will stop doing business with WSI or do they call this a "CONFLICT OF INTEREST". Wall Street Democrat's right here in N.D. Interesting again! "

Deb wrote on Oct 18, 2008 4:01 PM:

" If the opponent is Adam Hamm, I'd seriously consider voting for Mickey Mouse. "

Boomerang wrote on Oct 18, 2008 7:29 AM:

" I asked the ND Insurance Department why AARP's health insurance can not get certification in ND. Did not get a answer other then BCBS has to be thought of first before allowing any more competition. "

Carol wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:56 PM:

" Can someone tell me what happened to the posting, from Thursday night, that pointed out the Deputy Insurance Commissioner makes more than the Commissioner? How did that happen and who gave her the raise? Poolman? "

the ads wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:42 PM:

" Helping Seniors with their doughnut hole is fine. Having the Insurance Commisioner in the commercial standing in front of a United States flag while he speaks to seniors about prescription drug assistance is a free campaign advertisement. What does a waving american flag have to do with drug prescriptions? It is subliminal messaging. Could Mr. Hamm be a little less obvious with his "help.?" Appointed incumbents have obvious advantages but I don't want my tax dollar being used for his obvious campaign advertisements. I would have had more respect for him had he just admited it. Pretending he was ONLY helping seniors with doughnut holes is a tough pill to swallow. "

Ben wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:53 PM:

" To "Ads": The Insurance Department can certainly advertise their programs anytime, and no one is arguing about the validity of the program that was supposed to be the topic of the ad in question. The problem is that Hamm's face and name was smeared all over the commercial even though it had no benefit to getting the information about the program in question across. He used federal money to create an ad that was politically beneficial to his campaign. The fact that he completely dismisses that idea just shows how little respect he has for the general voters' intelligence. "

Ads wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:15 PM:

" I still don't know why people are concerned about the advertisements. Did you people watch the ads? The main focus was providing information to seniors about their rights and abilities to secure healthcare and give information about paying for it. He is the face of the insurance department and he does have a right to be able to spread a message about an important topic that affects at least one person we all know. "

my mistake wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:27 PM:

" I am sorry. He missed 7 out of 9 state investment board meetings. I thought it was wsi but he is incompetent attending meetings. "

Geoff wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:56 PM:

" Deb: I think you would support Micky Mouse if he was a declared Democrat (liberal). By the way, just to be clear, Micky Mouse is a cartoon character and not a real 'person', contrary to the belief of ACORN and the democrat party. "

To Hamm missed wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:25 PM:

" The Insurance Comm. is not allowed to attend those meetings unless he is invited and he was not invited to the ones he missed. Get your facts strait before you believe any politician. "

Hamm missed meetings wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:29 PM:

" I can tell you why I won't vote for Hamm and it is not because he is Republican. He missed 7 out of 9 meetings for WSI. When he was campaigning he spoke of keeping a close eye on WSI and then does not show up for the job. I find that appalling. I have tivoed the debate and if he interupted and rolled his eyes that will solidify my thoughts of his character. If you can't keep it together for 90 minutes you certainly can not handle four years. Also, I am sick to death of partisanship. You are serving the will of the people Mr. Hamm. Get it together. We are Independant, Democrat, Republican and everything inbetween. If you can't work with everyone you have no business running for statewide political office. This is not an episode of West Wing were you pretend to be important and play politics. This is real life, real public service in the great state of North Dakota. Grow up. "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:15 PM:

" To Bill: You have an interesting comment, but you need to provide a source for your facts. "

arlo pear wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:05 PM:

" This article is very biased they way it was written, not a surprise.

I would have liked to see more knowledge come out of Jasper. He just hit some key issues and rambled about them. I want to know how you are going to fix the problem not that you are going to fix it. "

Deb wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:16 PM:

" I guess I'm the kind of citizen who expects a royal hissy fit to be pitched when my tax dollars are misappropriated or misused.

I'm just that kind of person, I guess... "

Hog Man wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:45 PM:

" Regardless of the debate, I'd vote for Hamm because of the royal hissy fit that Jasper and the Democrats pitched about the TV ad bruhaha. That kind of immature whining is best left on the playground in my opinion. "

Deb wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:30 PM:

" Jasper knocked it out of the park last night. Hamm came off as the smug good ol' boy that we're used to seeing from the ND Republican party. We've seen it, we've had it, and we're ready for change.

Hope you can sell your house when you're kicked outta town in 19 days, Hamm. "

The Guy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:46 AM:

" I fail to see how either of the two candidates are qualified. They're both relying on "buzz" topics like WSI and Healthcare. I may be wrong but isn't WSI out of their control. Healthcare will never change because companies can't be profitable here. They think they're qualified because they handled a couple of claims as lawyers? Please they don't know the first thing about insurance. "

Barry wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:43 AM:

" I also attended the debate last night and I would just like to comment on how rude I thought Adam Hamm was. He jumped in front of Schneider when a question was asked even though the order had been determined that Schneider answer first. Also, he repeatedly rolled his eyes and made a few comments while Schneider was speaking. He even interrupted Schneider during one of Schneider's answers by asking "are you serious?" followed by some other comments that were kind of drowned out by the audience basically booing Hamm. It was not impressive. "

Tracy Potter wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Adam Hamm is seriously off-base in two things here. It will take 458 words to explain, so it will require two posts.

First, the presumption that the Legislature will be Republican. Besides being insulting to the voters by presuming how they will vote in 18 days, it ignores the math of the current situation. Right now, in the North Dakota Senate, there are 14 Democrats and 10 Republicans who won election in 2006 and don't have to run this year. There are 23 seats being contested. In order to control the Senate, the GOP team, which won 41% last "season," needs to win 69% this year. So, unless there is a remarkable turn-around, the Senate will be Democrat-NPL. I wouldn't presume to make that prediction, because the voters are supreme, but the math says that it's more likely that the Senate will be Democratic than Republican. Is Mr. Hamm saying he won't be able to work with us?

Saying that you can work with one party is not a positive. Proving that you can work with both parties, like Rep. Schneider did in the last Session is. "

Sara wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:31 AM:

" I attended the debate last night and feel that Jasper Schneider would make a much better commissioner than Hamm. Hamm was chomping at the bit to talk about BCBS and even brought them up in his closing arguments because he didn't get as much time to bash them for political points than he would have liked. He continually talked about bringing in competition for health insurance in the state but in his next breath would state that health care costs are going up because of utilization rates and the aging population of ND. What other health insurance company would want to come in to provide coverage for that type of demographic?? There has been competition before and that competition left because they made no money. Hamm is either clueless or he is hoping that the electorate is. "

John wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:11 AM:

" Schneider won this debate. Hamm thinks he can get things done because we have a republican legislature? That is the type of partisan politics people are sick of. "

At_in_ND wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:27 AM:

" I find it intersting that when Adam Hamm was nominated to succeed Jim Poolman the Democrats dismissed his appointment by saying he is "an attorney from Fargo who doesn't know anything about insurance." Now the candidate they want you to support is - surprise - an attorney from Fargo, who to my knowledge does not have a great deal of experience in insurance. Hamm has done a great job in the short time he has been in office. He is a man of integrity and should be elected as the next insurance commissioner of the Great State of North Dakota. "

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