DFA calls for CT Gov. Malloy to replace Anthem-Cigna merger regulator, citing interest conflict
Today, Democracy for America joined Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) and other allies in urging Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy to replace Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Wade as the key regulator in the Anthem-Cigna insurance merger -- or risk calling the state's ethics or his "appropriateness" as a national Democratic leader into question.
Democracy for America is a national progressive political action committee with 1 million members nationwide and 18,488 members in Connecticut.
On Thursday, CCAG and its allies issued its initial calls for Malloy to take action on this clear case of conflicted interests.
Here's a statement from Connecticut resident and Democracy for America chair Jim Dean on the organization's decision to call for Malloy to remove Wade:
"Democracy for America joins with the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and its allies in calling on Governor Malloy to replace Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Wade and end the clear conflict of interest she has in the government's due diligence process over the Anthem-Cigna merger. In addition to immediately replacing Insurance Commissioner Wade, Governor Malloy needs to lead an open, public, independent, and transparent process regarding the Anthem-Cigna merger.
"The Connecticut working families who will bear the costs of further insurance industry consolidation in the Constitution State deserve to know that their Governor and his administration is fighting for their interests, not investors who want to profit from less competition.
"Anything less than an open, public, independent, and transparent process surrounding the Cigna-Aetna merger would legitimately call into question the ethics of our state government and, by extension, question the appropriateness of the Governor's leadership position in the national Democratic Party and its upcoming convention.
"Voters in both parties are fed up with back room deals and conflicts of interest that allow those in government and their friends and family to profit at the expense of working families. After the Rowland Administration's legacy of graft and the damage it caused our state, it is vital that the Malloy administration and all Democratic leaders in Connecticut walk the walk in the fight against corruption or get out of the way." -- Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America & Connecticut resident.