“I am honored to serve as CEO during such an important and exciting time in the regulatory community,” says the newest chief of the National Association Insurance Commissioners, Ben Nelson, who was a U.S. Senator until about three weeks ago.
What makes this “such an important and exciting time in the regulatory community” regarding insurance? Two laws mostly — the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank financial regulation.
Ben Nelson, as a Senator, provided crucial support for both of these bills.
So, Nelson, as a Senator, worked to make himself more valuable to these industries by increasing regulations and subsidies for them.
This is one reason moderates have the quickest track to K Street. Their economic vision is generally both pro-business and pro-government. Whatever effect this has on business and the economy, it makes lots of work for lobbyists.
Like Democratic moderate Evan Bayh before him, Nelson is taking two K Street jobs. In addition to the NAIC, Nelson will be a “senior partner” at public affairs firm Agenda.
