Insurance commissioner swings back at criticism

Still stinging from Democrats' criticism that he didn't do enough to stop HMOs from passing a new tax increase onto subscribers, state Insurance Commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr. described himself as a consumer advocate who was made a political "fall guy."

During an interview with The Capital's editorial board this week, Mr. Redmer said he decided against holding hearings on insurers' decision to pass on the 2 percent tax on premiums to avoid making the sensitive issue an opportunity for more public posturing.

The General Assembly already had overridden Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich's veto in a messy December special session called...