Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to SB 1129, SD2 HD2 CD1, relating to Insurance Industry Continuing Education.
This bill increases various licensing fees for the insurance industry 50%. These fees go into a special fund to be spent by the Insurance Commissioner. This is another program converted from the general fund to a special fund and placed outside the purview of the legislative branch.
We continue to give up our power to the executive branch by creating special funds and letting programs and agencies fund themselves. At some point, everything will be in a special fund and there will be nothing left for us to appropriate. I do not look forward to the day when our constituents ask us why we exist.
The legislature exists to supervise how every tax dollar is spent. We represent the people - the taxpayers. We pervert the Constitution and the balance of powers every time we create a special fund.