A ‘funny’ thing happened at the AARP meeting

9-28-06 

A ‘funny’ thing happened at the AARP meeting in New Port Richey on Wednesday, Sep. 27 that I thought I would share.  I attended this meeting, along with several members of HAC Fla., Inc. mainly because the guest speaker was to be State Representative Tom Anderson.  At the start of the meeting the moderator announced that Mr. Anderson would not be able to speak, and then she introduced Mr. Dan Amend, who is employed by the Florida Dept. of Financial Services.  He started by saying that he thought he would be speaking along with Mr. Anderson.  He then went on to, first and foremost, inform the audience that his department was responsible for ENFORCING the current insurance laws, not making them.  About 5 minutes into his speech, Mr. Anderson came into the room and sat down and listened.  At the end of the speech, Mr. Amend took questions.  I had 3 questions/comments;  #1) “ If the lawmakers are responsible for this mess of an insurance crisis, why aren’t they voting in laws that would help the people, NOT the insurance companies?”  #2) “Why is it that it seems every bill put before the legislatures that would help us if voted down, ‘does the insurance companies pay them off?”  #3) “Have you ever heard of ANYTHING going up 300% in one year, and doesn’t that appear obvious that this needs a total investigation?”  His responses: 1) No Comment, 2) The insurance industry has very strong lobbyists, and 3) You need to make your opinions known at the polls!  At this point, Mr. Anderson got up, whispered something to the moderator and then left with the 2 women he came in with.  The moderator announced that due to AARP rules he could not speak?!  Why did he come in if he wasn’t going to speak?? Why did AARP invite him if their ‘rules’ forbid him to speak? Why did he leave right at that point?  Why did Mr. Amend initially indicate that Mr. Anderson would be there to speak?  

It has been apparent throughout this campaign that no politician wants to address this insurance crisis with a definite, positive plan to help the people, but it is really obvious now, seeing his quick exit—that they don’t want to have to face, and answer to the truth. THAT THEY ARE ALL SELLING US OUT,  FOR THE GAIN OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.  Or so it appeared to many of us, at the meeting. 

Carol Howard

Spring Hill