In perilous times like these, as insurance companies work to stay afloat because of the financial crisis and President Obama tries to nationalize health insurance, we cannot afford an insurance commisioner who needs on-the-job-training.
Tom Knox stands out in the field for Insurance Commissioner because Tom is the only candidate who has worked with insurance companies, in oversight of insurance companies at the Capitol, and for consumers with complaints against insurance companies.
Tom's leadership has been shown since early in his involvement in political affairs. He has been a life-long Republican, starting out going door-to-door as a child for Dwight Eisenhower and serving in a number of grassroots roles in his local GOP, including Chairman of the Forsyth Republican Party where he won the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award for dedication to conservative principles.
Tom was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2000, rising to become the first-ever Republican Chairman of the House Insurance Committee in 2005. He has since served on the Joint Study Committee on Tort Reform, helping pass the first comprehensive crackdown on junk lawsuits in Georgia history, and he is the only candidate with an unbroken record of strong scores from all pro-business, pro-family groups including the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Right-to-Life, the NRA, and others.
Tom has an unbroken record of conservative leadership as chairman of the House Insurance Committee - reducing red tape for companies while increasing options for consumers. He has worked directly for insurance companies, managing legal and financial compliance in the actual insurance marketplace. He has also represented consumers with complaints against insurance companies, fighting to make sure companies live by the rules we set for them.
Tom is the only candidate who can grasp all the complicated elements of the insurance commissioner's job from Day One - and go to work right away defending us against nationalized healthcare while insuring a strong insurance marketplace in Georgia.