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Summer is in full swing. We just went through 10 days of over 90 degrees with no rain, forests in the north are on fire and the political atmosphere is about to heat up! The campaign ads are in high gear, with each candidate making their pitch as to why their competition is worse than they are. This will be my last article before the elections occur.
When we all met for the Big I Minnesota InsurCon, we worked to impress upon you the significance of the upcoming elections on our livelihoods. We spoke of the Big I’s efforts, both locally and nationally, providing a real world, educated voice, in shaping legislation, and in altering the course of legislation that may have consequences the legislators had not considered or intended.
We spoke of our superstar Lobbyist, Robyn Rowen, who you see write in her legislative update publication, Capitol Notes, on a regular basis. Below is her commentary on the upcoming elections in Minnesota.
“To ensure a healthy and competitive insurance market, we need elected officials from both parties who possess a deep understanding of the insurance industry and the vital role of independent agents. This year, all 201 members of the Minnesota House and Senate are up for election. Among these, forty-three incumbent legislators (approximately a quarter of the entire legislature) are either retiring or seeking re-election for other offices. Notably, many of the departing incumbents are highly experienced committee chairs, including all the current Commerce Committee chairs. In the insurance industry, we are witnessing an unprecedented departure of legislative leaders who have been among our most dedicated champions and who possess decades of invaluable knowledge and experience. In addition to the legislative races, there is also a highly contested race for Governor. The winner of the Governor’s race will appoint the first new Commerce Commissioner in over five years. Needless to say, there is a lot at stake, but with change comes opportunity. That’s why getting involved in our State PAC (MIIA PAC) is more crucial than ever. Our PAC is bipartisan, and our primary focus is on educating, developing, and supporting candidates who recognize the critical role independent agents play in safeguarding Minnesota consumers. Please reach out to yourfriends@bigimn.org learn more about our efforts and to get involved.”
We hope this will impress upon you the importance of our efforts with the legislature. One way we get Robyn access to conversations with the candidates and then elected officials, is through fundraising events. While this may seem unpalatable, it is the way it works. In Minnesota, PAC donations can only be made at the individual level. Our respective businesses cannot donate, only we as individuals can donate. The Big I Minnesota Board has 100% participation in donating to the State and National PACs. Will you please join us in protecting and enhancing the livelihoods of the agents and employees of agencies, the carrier employees, and all the interrelated individuals in the Minnesota insurance marketplace? Below, you will see QR codes that will take you directly to the respective State (MIIA PAC) and National (InsurPac) PAC websites. We also have a PAC fundraiser event at Smashpark in Roseville on September 24th from 3-6pm. Come join us!
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