Declarations

Mississippi freethinker

“I have been a freethinker for a long time. I haven’t a clue why they did this.”

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale, who has run as a Democrat eight times in his political career, but who this year won’t be allowed to do so. The Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee denied certification to Dale because they “questioned his loyalty to the Democratic Party,” a party spokesman said. He said he doesn’t know whether he will run as an independent or Republican.

Louder voice

“This bill puts consumers on more equal footing with insurance companies and gives them a louder voice.”

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink after the Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 1884, which expands the Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate. SB 1884 now goes to the Senate General Government Appropriations Committee.

Fed role

“It is clear that the government has got to step in.”

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, expressing his support for a national program to backup private hurricane and flood insurance markets.

Sponged-off

“It is more than ironic that two working class sponges are named Bob. Both characters are unemployed. Both characters live in a house concept.”

Troy Walker claiming that he created Bob Spongee, an unemployed cartoon sponge who lived with his family on Apple street, in 1991, upon which he claims Nickelodeon based its popular “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” Walker has filed a lawsuit against Nickelodeon, demanding $1.6 billion in damages, and alleging that they used his idea without his permission. Walker claims to have made 1,000 Bob Spongee dolls, which he sold throughout northern California, and which he believes inspired the show’s producers to copy his character.

Bank withdrawal

“Since the approval process is now likely to take years rather than months, we decided to withdraw our application to better focus on other ways to serve customers.”

Wal-Mart President Jane Thompson explaining why her firm withdrew its application to start its own bank, which it first filed in 2005, rather than wait any longer: The retailer is one among 14 companies with applications before the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to establish what are called industrial loan corporations, or ILCs.