State Insurance Commissioner Took Political Donations From Companies He Regulates | Jeff McDonald

A new Union-Tribune analysis of public disclosures related to Ricardo Lara’s successful campaign for state insurance commissioner shows that he accepted more donations from interested parties than was previously known. Lara collected at least $270,000 from 56 different people and companies with ties to the department he now oversees, according to a recent, more thorough examination of contributions reported to the Secretary of State. In some cases, the money came directly from insurers like Aflac or Blue Shield of California. In others, donations came from bail agents regulated by the department.