Legislative Campaign

The situation

The insurance industry was under fire in Texas for raising rates and suspending sales of new homeowner policies due to a significant increase in mold claims. Policyholders, consumer groups, and legislators representing both sides of the aisle were calling for a rate freeze and further regulation of practices such as credit scoring.

Public Strategies' solution

Public Strategies worked with the five largest insurers in the state to craft and implement an ambitious lobbying strategy supported by a coalition-driven grassroots campaign to work with the Insurance Commissioner and the state political leadership to craft legislation that would ensure the companies could continue to offer services in Texas.

• Conducted research, including focus groups and a statewide survey, to gauge public sentiment and test campaign messages.

• Put forward a legislative solution through bipartisan cosponsors and advocated aggressively among key leadership and legislators.

• Coordinated a large lobby team's activities, led strategy discussions and created white papers.

• Created a consumer-oriented coalition called Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions (TCAIS) with a resourceful Website to support the lobby effort by building public support for the industry's legislation.

• Crafted and distributed an "Insurance 101" booklet to educate consumers about how insurance works and home maintenance tips.

• Coordinated a rapid response program to ensure no attack went unanswered.

• Conducted media relations outreach, including editorial board briefings, in key legislative districts.

• Produced print and radio advertisements.

Client benefits

Despite entering the 2003 Texas legislative cycle with significant opposition on both sides of the aisle, insurance industry-supported legislation passed through the legislature free of mandatory rate reductions and any limitations on credit scoring.