Nonnie Burnes Moving On

 
It looks as though the state of Massachusetts is going to be looking for a new State Insurance Chief. Nonnie Burnes has been the state auto Insurance Commissioner for a little more than two years, and during that time has brought real change to the auto insurance industry within the state. She is after all, the one who brought forward the idea of giving auto insurance companies more freedom to set their rates, and also allowed for increased competition within the state auto insurance industry.
 
This change to the auto insurance industry helped both residents and the companies within it. Since she lifted the restrictions on how auto insurance is handled within the state 11 more companies have entered the market or plan to do so. This has enabled residents to shop around and get a cheaper deal than they had ever paid before. Many residents feel that Burns is the best thing that ever happened to the state auto insurance industry.
 
This is not to say that she didn't have her problems as well. At one point she had wanted to dismantle the State Appeal Boards that allow consumers to challenge surcharges to their auto insurance premiums due to accidents. Lawmakers backed residents and stood against her on it, and Burnes reversed the decision. Gov. Deval Patrick has said that he considers her a great friend and Commissioner. He said that she is responsible for bringing down the auto insurance rates for consumers.
 
Burns will become a senior fellow at Northeastern University, the same place she earned her law degree in 1978. She said that she is excited by the change and to be doing something different.

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