The former Republican Assemblyman endured a fair amount of criticism by Democrats during his term, some of it occurring after HMOs increased rates following the legislature's passage of a 2 percent premium tax.

The commissioner said there was nothing in the law that would have allowed him to prevent the increases, which were less than the amount of the premium tax.

An amendment to the tax bill that would have prevented the pass-along by insurers was defeated, he noted.

Gov. Ehrlich said Mr. Redmer had "brought to the Maryland Insurance Administration twenty years experience as a private sector health insurance executive and 13 years experience as an elected public official. His perspective as the state's top insurance regulator reflected an expert understanding of the insurance industry and the need to safeguard and serve the public."

The governor said that under Mr. Redmer's leadership, his agency had managed a significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland.

He credited Mr. Redmer with "creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases."

Mr. Redmer, he said, had established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind "Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit" to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

The commissioner said he was most proud of creating the education and advocacy unit and his efforts to improve the competitive environment.

Maryland, he said, now has more carriers writing more products in all lines, adding that more work still needs to be done in the health care and medical liability coverage marketplace.