Utah Insurance

He speaks of “carpet bombing” and “Vietcong” attacks. But Paul Equale troops are not soldiers. They are more than 220000 insurance agents ready to approach the Congress as Mr Equale gives the signal. As the chief lobbyist for one of the richest and most powerful interest groups here, Mr. Equale has been at the centre of a number of important issues. And so far, he wins.

Mr. Equale may be afraid to strike members of Congress, recalled, as a few years ago, nearly 800 agents - including at least once and for all Congress constituency - wimmelte at a conference two days the deadline to ensure that banks before to enter into insurance business. Only a memory of this episode is fairly large number of legislators toes M. ’s Equale same line that the problem is reflected in the current session. “You are the message ‘

“My group is well informed and well disciplined,” said Equale (KWAL-ee-EE), Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Authority independent insurance agent of America, in a interview at his office on Capitol Hill. “I am here as their messengers. They are the message. And their message is the base. ”

During recent months, Mr. Equale has been a success in the rotation of the bank to revise a bill would help ensure that banks in an action to cancel the progress that bankers have already intrusion in business insurance. The group lobbying has been a major success stories in Washington, “said Kenneth Günther, director of the Independent Bankers Association, representing small and medium-sized banks.

But Mr. Equale is now in the difficult situation of the sector represent, whose reputation has been tarnished in recent months, and it risks overplaying its hand.

The collapse of several insurance companies has questions about the solidity of the industry and shouts after more state control. A ballot referendum in California was a price insurance Back, which is widespread dissatisfaction of consumers. Under this pressure, the United Front Assekuranz here - a coalition of M. Equale group and other major insurers represented - began to fragment.

The frustration on the insurance lobby has burst on Capitol Hill. Recently, for example, a senator disgrunted son Jake, Republican of Utah, was satisfied during a committee meeting, where the law on banks was previously except for provisions by insurers at the expense of banks . It responds with the introduction of a bill, which kill, a right that the insurance industry Holy Grail.

Mr son accountant, the repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, with the insurance companies of price fixing and be exempt from most federal regulation. It is considered the most important for the protection of the law on insurance companies.

“I was so angry with the proposed amendments, as I said, ‘Hey, this is scandalous,” said Senator son, himself a former insurance agent.

“I thought: ‘How can I get these people?” “Says Mr son.” There is no possibility of an exception from two to four hours on their attention. I have a lot of Senators and Congressmen say that agree with me, but they are not ready to try all independent insurance intermediaries. There are simply too many of them to offend. ”

Mr son said he was not seriously McCarran-Ferguson repeal, or wait until he reaches his account. He said he had only one message to send. Sixth-largest PAC in Congress

These episodes little discouraging M. Equale, 40, a native of Queens and a SUNY Buffalo Law School graduate, arrived in Washington as a demonstration of anti-war movement in the early 1970’s and remained a lawyer and the Government of the Democratic Party organizers.

He joined representatives of the insurance lobbying in 1986 and now heads an office with a $ 1 million annual budget, 15 staff and one of the richest war chests policies in Congress. His group’s Political Action Committee is the sixth in Congress and is expected to distribute about $ 1 million to candidates this year.