October 16, 2008-Jamestown Sun

Letter to the editor: Schneider’s attacks on Hamm are unfair
Frank Wald, Dickinson, N.D.
The Jamestown Sun - 10/16/2008 Jasper Schneider is the Democrat-NPL challenger for the office of state insurance commissioner. He is viciously attacking the incumbent commissioner, Adam Hamm, for denying BlueCross BlueShield’s request for a 14.9 percent premium increase on their group health-insurance policies.

This unwarranted cheap shot is transparent political grandstanding. Further, Schneider should have realized that Hamm had no control over the timing of BCBS request. The funding of the public notice is also a non-issue.

Hamm based his denial upon the results of a completely nonpolitical analysis conducted by the North Dakota Insurance Department’s chief actuary. Thus far, BCBS has failed to justify its request. Hamm was correct in denying it.

Section 26.1-30-19 of the North Dakota Century Code outlines the commissioner’s duties and responsibilities and it says, in part, “A Form [rate increase request] must be disapproved if the benefits provided are unreasonable in relation to the premium charge.” Schneider has revealed he has no clue as to the responsibilities and duties of the insurance commissioner. I would submit that he should have at least a basic knowledge of the duties of the office he is seeking.

I also find it curious that Schneider, a young trial lawyer, would choose this issue for his political attacks. Strangely, he chose to criticize Hamm for protecting North Dakota policyholders from unnecessary rate increases! This is especially puzzling in the middle of an election campaign. Isn’t it amazing what some people will do for a vote?

Schneider’s unjustified attack simply demonstrates Hamm was doing his job and is not in the pockets of the insurance companies that he regulates.

Schneider’s desperate attacks against Hamm remind me of a story about a young lawyer who was about to leave his office to try his first case. A senior partner of the law firm intercepted him on the way out, saying, “Young man, let me give you some advice. If you don’t know the facts, argue the law. If you don’t know the law, argue the facts. If you don’t know either, abuse your opponent.” The evidence leads me to believe Schneider has learned this trick well.

Frank Wald

Dickinson, N.D.