Delcarations – South Central

Critical Restructuring

“Restructuring is critical to TWIA’s ongoing operations so we don’t keep digging a deeper hole for ourselves. There will be no eminent decisions on the administrative oversight.”

—Texas Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman, speaking at a May 2012 board meeting of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Kitzman has previously said she believes structure of the state’s insurer of last resort for coastal properties is unsustainable. TWIA has been under Texas Department of Insurance oversight since early 2011 due to an ongoing series of problems at the insurer and questions over the quality of its management.

Ethics Versus Growth

“Growth and ethical business conduct in today’s markets can appear to be competing priorities.”

—David Stulb, Global Leader of Ernst & Young’s fraud investigation and disputes services practice. Ernst & Young’s annual fraud survey showed that a growing number of senior executives around the world are willing to pay bribes to win or keep business, as the hunt for growth supersedes concerns over ethics and regulatory fines. After quizzing around 1,700 executives across 43 countries, Ernst & Young found more than one third of respondents believed corruption was widespread in their country.

Mow or Pay

“This will give us a little more strength in our ordinances to get people to cut their grass.”

—Denham Springs, La., Councilman John Wascom says tall grass is a problem in the city at times. Now, failure to mow the lawn could become expensive for Denham Springs residents. The city council adopted an ordinance that provides for levying fines of up to $500 against owners of overgrown yards and lots. People who let their grass grow too tall could even face up to 60 days in jail in addition to the fine. Too tall, in the eyes of the city council, is a foot or higher, and it applies to weeds and brush as well as lawn grasses.