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 Texas Republicans Set to Lead in U.S. House & Continue to Dominate Austin
With Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives on November 2nd, Texas may come out ahead as Democratic chairs of House committees turn over their positions to Republicans. Five of the 25 committee chairs could go to Texans; as many as 12 Texans could lead subcommittees. Republican dominance in the Texas Legislature will continue with 29 new Republicans and 5 new Democrats elected to the Texas House of Representatives, and 1 new Republican and 1 new Democrat elected to the Texas Senate. Both the Texas House and Senate were controlled by Republicans prior to the election, and the new 99-51 split of Rs over Ds in the House insures that a Republican will be elected Speaker. The Speaker will be elected by House members on the first day of session, January 11, 2011 and will appoint all of the House Committees and Committee Chairs that set hearings and take testimony on bills filed during the session. House Insurance Committee Chair John Smithee and Representative Larry Taylor met with insurance industry groups November 17 in Austin to preview what can be expected during the upcoming session. The state budget shortfall, redistricting, voter ID, state insurance exchanges, homeowners' insurance and sunset review of state agencies including TDI will be top concerns and/or priorities. It will be a session for industry groups to play defense, not offense, a point that both Smithee and Taylor agreed upon. | |
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NAIFA-Texas PAC Supports Winning Candidates
Roland Barrera, Incoming Chair of the NAIFA-Texas PAC Board, announced that more than $105,000 in political contributions to office holders and candidates for Texas statewide races and legislative districts were authorized in the 2009-2010 election cycle. In this election cycle, NAIFA-Texas PAC has an 84% success rate of contributing to candidates who won election.
"Too few of our members are 'writing the right check' when it comes to support for IFAPAC," says Barrera. "Is there interest in securing passage of a bill to increase protections for consumers under the state Guaranty Association? If so, is there a commitment of dollars to help make it happen? Is there a desire to protect the role of agents and their compensation in health insurance? If so, is it worth a few extra dollars a day to support the PAC?" Barrera notes that the myriad issues -- including taxation of inside buildup in life insurance policies and annuities -- that threaten agents and financial advisors make it more important now than ever before to have a strong PAC. A robust PAC means "career insurance" for agents, says Barrera. The election season officially stays open until 30 days prior to the first day the Texas Legislature convenes in January. The 82nd Session will convene on January 11, 2011. Contributions can continue to be made until December 11, 2010. | |
If you do not currently support NAIFA-Texas PAC,
please consider becoming a contributor.
Click Here to view current PAC Investors.
If your name is not on this list, you have NOT contributed for calendar year 2010.
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Texas Coalition of Health Insurance Agents Holds Briefing at NAIFA-Texas
On November 12th at the NAIFA-Texas offices in Austin Michael Keegan, Director of State Affairs for the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) in Washington, DC, provided a briefing to the Texas Coalition of Health Insurance Agents concerning the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA). 
The Coalition includes the Texas Association of Health Underwriters (TAHU), Texas Independent Insurance Agents (IIAT) and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Texas (NAIFA-Texas).
NAIFA-Texas Government Relations Chair Doug Aycock CLU,ChFC, summed up the briefing from the agent's viewpoint with the question, "How do I fit into 'ObamaCare' (PPACA)?" From the outset of the national healthcare discussion, the role of the agent and agent compensation have been major concerns.
In Washington, DC requests were made by NAIFA, NAHU and IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) to handle agent healthcare commissions as a "pass through" rather than as a portion of MLR calculations.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has not formally recommended the "pass through" of commissions in MLR calculations, but did adopt the following resolution:
"As the standards for implementing national health reform are being developed, it is essential that they recognize and protect the indispensable role that licensed insurance professionals play in serving consumers. It is important for federal policymakers to acknowledge the critical role of producers and to establish standards for the Exchanges so that insurance professionals will continue to be adequately compensated for the services they provide, and so that the duties of Exchange Navigators appropriately reflect the important role of insurance producers who are skilled, knowledgeable, educated and licensed and regulated."
As states are required to create healthcare exchanges for consumers to purchase coverage, the Coalition has met with TDI Commissioner Mike Geeslin and lawmakers about the necessary and vital role of agents who provide consumer education, enrollment and followup services. "Pass through" agent commissions are at the top of the discussion.
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NAIFA-Texas/IIAT Joint Legislative Day Set for February 1, 2011
With the completion of the 2010 election season, the real work of advocacy begins. February 1st marks the second time that IIAT and NAIFA-Texas have held a joint luncheon saluting members of the Texas Legislature as part of legislative day events.
NAIFA-Texas members from across the state converge on the Texas Capitol to meet with lawmakers to discuss important issues and to further establish relationships with them.
While NAIFA-Texas leaders are preparing for a busy legislative session, each NAIFA-Texas member has a responsibility to be actively involved in the political process by cultivating a relationship with his/her lawmaker. Grassroots involvement is key in making sure that the voice of Texas agents and financial advisors is heard when important issues arise at the Texas Capitol.
Registration for Legislative Day is now open to all members. Seating availability for luncheon is limited. Don't miss out on this opportunity to become involved in standing up for your industry.
Send in your registration today! The 82nd Texas Legislature convenes in Austin on January 11, 2011.
Please also consider becoming a NAIFA-Texas Key Contact for your local lawmaker.  |
NAIFA Implores Congress Not to Tax Inside Buildup
Among the tax reform proposals that the Co-Chairs of the Deficit Reduction Commission are considering is one to eliminate the rules that allow for the tax-free growth of life insurance and annuity inside buildup.
Click here to view the letter submitted to Congress by NAIFA and its industry partners that implores Congress to consider the importance of the role life insurance plays both in the economy and in the financial stability of some 75 million American families.
The Commission is scheduled to vote on the draft proposal November 30 and submit its report to Congress December 1st. | |
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What Will the Lame Duck Congress Do?
The 111th Congress returns this week with politics again at the forefront of deliberations of lawmakers. Some of the things the lame duck session is expected to do are passage of a continuing resolution to keep the government operating until January and extension of the so-called Bush tax cuts beyond year end.
Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) says he will support repeal of the Form 1099 tax reporting requirements under the healthcare bill which presently requires all businesses, tax-exempt organizations and federal, state and local government entities to issue 1099s to vendors from whom goods totaling $600 or more were purchased during a calendar year.
Tea Party members will be looking to cut spending by removing "earmarks" which is often controversial money that a member of Congress sets aside for a specific project in his or her home district. The Obama administration has stated that it is open to doing this.
Among the myriad issues that will face the 112th Congress that convenes in January are recommendations of the Deficit Reduction Commission, changes to the estate tax, and withholding of funding for implementation of portions of the federal healthcare reforms and/or outright repeal of Obama care, a goal that a large number of conservative House and Senate candidates advanced during their 2010 campaigns. | |
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Proud Traditions of TLRT to Continue with New Direction
 With the joint decision of the TLRT and NAIFA-Texas boards to sunset Texas Leaders Round Table at year's end, the primary purposes of the 45-year old honor organization will become part of the NAIFA-Texas program and be continued, according to NAIFA-Texas President Cylinda Clark and TLRT President Charles Booth. "There will be no separate dues or governance structure for the Leaders Round Table," said Clark. "We will incorporate MDRT level speakers/presentations within the existing framework of our annual meeting/career conference. The training, mentoring and recognition of members--all a part of the proud tradition of the TLRT Roundup--will become a part of a re-vitalized NAIFA-Texas career conference and annual meeting, starting this year in Clear Lake." "The decision to incorporate the benefits of TLRT into the total program of NAIFA-Texas is clearly a positive move," said TLRT President Charles Booth. "For the TLRT/NAIFA-Texas member, there is, in effect, a dues decrease; for the non TLRT member, there is added value for the dues paid NAIFA-Texas."
In the planning stages now are ideas to honor and recognize past TLRT leadership and Texas sales leaders at the July 21-24 events at the Houston Hilton NASA Clear Lake newly refurbished property near the NASA Space Center. | |
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New Communications Assistant to Focus on Engaging Members
 Amy Evans recently joined the administrative team at NAIFA-Texas. Her duties will focus primarily on communications with the goal of engaging NAIFA-Texas' members in social media and enhancing important news delivered to members.
Amy comes to us from Boston University where she completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees.
If there are specific initiatives that members would like her to consider, please contact her directly at amy.evans@naifa-texas.org. | |
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