Candidate for
Insurance Commissioner; State of California; Democratic Party

FIGHTING FOR CONSUMERS...

"I am confident that Tom Calderon will fight for consumers and ensure that the hard-working men and women of California are treated fairly and receive the benefits they deserve. Tom will work to restore peace of mind to injured workers, to guarantee that there will be a safety net to protect them and their families."

William (Bill) Herreras

INSURANCE IS A MAJOR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT FOR CALIFORNIA FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. AS PART OF THE TEAM THAT EXPOSED THE UNSCRUPULOUS ACTIONS OF FORMER INSURANCE COMMISSIONER CHUCK QUACKENBUSH, TOM CALDERON KNOWS THAT PROTECTION OF THAT INVESTMENT MUST BE THE COMMISSIONER'S HIGHEST PRIORITY.

As Chairman of the Assembly Insurance Committee, Tom Calderon has had first-hand experience with insurance company practices, critical insurance issues and the needs of families and businesses who rely on insurance. That experience will serve to protect all Californians and ensure their insurance provides the coverage they require.

He'll monitor the conduct of brokers, agents and insurance companies to ensure they are qualified, dealing honestly and fairly with California consumers and are punished if they victimize families and businesses.

He'll fight to keep insurance costs under control. Insurance companies are entitled to make a profit, but not at the expense of affordability for all Californians.

He'll ensure that consumers have a place to redress their grievances, quickly and efficiently.

He'll streamline the bureaucracy so that all Californians can enjoy the benefits of the office of State Insurance Commissioner.

In the Legislature, Tom Calderon fought for consumers.

He was part of the team that brought to light the unscrupulous actions of former Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, who betrayed and harmed California's consumers.

AB 1183 which stabilized the crumbling workers' compensation safety net and increased funding to guarantee benefits to workers injured on the job if their insurance company becomes insolvent.

AB 1086, a "smart-growth" compromise between housing advocates, businesses and environmentalists to streamline approval of new urban infill housing while protecting the environment.

SB 1805 to finally open up to public scrutiny official government "market conduct" reports detailing unfair claims practices by insurance companies.

GOOD GOVERNMENT...

"Tom has been successful in building consensus in all of the issues he has taken on. He worked to increase funds for education, bring new sources of energy to California and ensure clean water for all Californians. I have every confidence that Tom is the candidate who can make real change in the Department of Insurance. There is no doubt he is the guy to solve the state's insurance woes."

Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson

THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONER REQUIRES SOMEONE WHO HAS A STRONG POLICY BACKGROUND, AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL EXPERTISE TO SOLVE THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT THREATEN TO SHACKLE CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY. TOM CALDERON HAS BEEN A CONSENSUS BUILDER; STANDING WITH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS; WORKING WITH CONSUMERS AND BUSINESS; AND PROTECTING LOCAL CONTROL WHILE PROMOTING MORE STATE INVOLVEMENT. HE HAS THE SKILLS TO MAKE OUR INSURANCE SYSTEM WORK.

Tom Calderon has devoted his entire career to cleaning up government.

Former president of the Montebello Unified School District Board of Education, he worked to bring local schools, which were on the verge of bankruptcy, back to solvency and focused on the business of teaching children.

As Chair of the Select Committee on School Funding Reform, he ended a decades-long battle over state-controlled funds owed to local school districts and won improved salaries for teachers.

As chair of a select committee, he battled polluters in the San Gabriel Valley, ending a 20-year conflict over who would clean up our drinking water.

He wrote strong legislation that reduced air pollution and created "smart growth" environmental policies, while maintaining economic balance.

He was a key legislator involved in cleaning up the Department of Insurance.

In the Legislature, Tom Calderon has been a leader.

He is Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee, where he has worked to keep insurance affordable and accessible to provide Californians with peace of mind.

He was chosen Freshman Legislator of the Year by the California School Boards Association.

He led the fight for workers' compensation benefit improvements and cost-cutting reforms in 2001.

HEALTHCARE...

"Tom Calderon has been extremely effective in Sacramento because he is a problem solver. We have worked together during his tenure in the Legislature and I am certain he will continue to be a great advocate for all the people of California if he is elected Insurance Commissioner."

Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante

THE VERY YOUNG AND THE VERY OLD ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN AND SENIORS CAN'T GET GOOD HEALTH CARE. THEY NEED TOM CALDERON ON THEIR SIDE AS STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

Tom Calderon will protect the health of California families.

He'll make sure health insurers are dealing honestly and fairly with California consumers.

He'll work to see that medical decisions are not made by health insurance accountants but by doctors whose "bottom line" is good health.

He'll fight to keep health care costs under control. Health care is a basic necessity that we must not permit to soar out of the reach of average Californians.

He'll protect the rights of consumers. When lives are at stake, it's important that the Insurance Commissioner provide a place for consumers to redress their grievances, quickly and efficiently.

In the Legislature, Tom Calderon has been Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee. He has authored and supported laws to ensure all Californians get the healthcare they're entitled to.

AB 749, SB 71 and AB 1176, to improve the state's troubled workers' compensation system, streamlining the system and providing a long-overdue benefit increase for those injured on the job.

AB 1183, which stabilized the crumbling workers' compensation safety net and increased funding to guarantee benefits to workers injured on the job if their insurance company becomes insolvent.

SB 189, establishing an independent review program for health-care consumers denied care or not satisfied with internal grievance procedures by insurance companies.

AB 1178, extended the Senior Insurance Law to include the protection of senior citizens from being pressured into buying insurance they don't need by predatory and unscrupulous insurance companies.

INSURANCE...

"Tom has run the Insurance Committee like a successful business # he is fair, efficient and focused on the end product. He has demonstrated his strength as a leader, working as a consensus builder to promote tough standards and discipline in an industry that can be difficult to regulate and confusing for consumers. He continues to impress me with his integrity and his common sense approach to ensuring insurance in California is affordable, accessible and understandable to consumers."

Assemblymember Robert Hertzberg Speaker Emeritus of the Assembly

CALIFORNIANS HAVE SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEAR. THEY DEMAND A FAIR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE SYSTEM. THEY NEED PROTECTION IN EARTHQUAKES. THEY DESERVE FAIR TREATMENT BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES. TOM CALDERON IS THEIR CHOICE.

Tom Calderon knows what it takes to keep California's insurance system strong.

He'll make sure all insurers are dealing honestly and fairly with California consumers.

He'll work to see that medical decisions are not made by health insurance accountants but by doctors whose "bottom line" is good health.

He'll fight to prevent automobile insurers from discriminating against good drivers.

He understands that there must be a balance between a "fair return" that keeps insurance companies solvent and "fair insurance rates" for consumers.

In the Legislature, Tom Calderon has been Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee. His work in the Legislature has helped him become a public policy expert in the insurance field.

He supported legislation to increase anti-fraud efforts in the auto insurance industry.

He led his committee's effort to extend a pilot program for dispute mediation between insurance companies and consumers arising out of the Northridge Earthquake of 1994.

SB 189, the establishment of an independent review program for health-care consumers denied care or not satisfied with internal grievance procedures of insurance companies.

for more information go to: http://www.tomcalderon.com