Washington Insurance Commissioner Dismissed After Publishing Obama Critique

Commissioner ousted after publishing health care critique without receiving permission from the mayor's office

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The insurance commissioner for Washington, D.C. was dismissed after publishing a critique of President Obama’s decision to allow Americans to renew insurance plans that did not meet minimum coverage standards.

The New York Times reports that William P. White sought, but did not receive, permission from the office of Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray to publish a critique of President Obama’s health care decision on Thursday. Within minutes of sending an email seeking approval, White’s office reportedly published a critique of the president’s decision on the city’s government website.

In an interview with the Times, White said that Washington’s deputy mayor told him that Mayor Gray had “decided to go in a different direction,” and that his services would no longer be needed. White has been the District of Columbia’s insurance commissioner for nearly three years.

[New York Times]