A year after he was nominated by Gov. Ed Rendell, the Pennsylvania Senate has finally voted unanimously to approve Joel Ario as the state’s insurance commissioner. The nomination of the former Oregon DOI chief had been held up amid numerous partisan disputes over insurance between the Senate Republican majority and Rendell, a Democrat. The nomination was Rendell’s longest battle with the Senate over a cabinet-level job. Ario had been serving in an acting capacity prior to his confirmation.

As the insurance administrator with the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services since 1994, Ario promoted new consumer protections involving credit scoring and other risk-rating practices; advanced health reforms that give small businesses better pooling options; built a coalition between employers, insurers and providers to create greater transparency in health care pricing by insurers and hospitals; and streamlined producer licensing and the review process for new insurance products.

Pennsylvania Senate Finally Approves Ario (Insurance Journal 7/7/08)

July 8, 2008