John Boehner To Give Keynote Address At Annual Insurance Lobbyists Summit

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has been booked to deliver the keynote address at the annual conference of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, a group that will hold powerful sway over lobbying efforts regarding health care and regulatory reform on Capitol Hill this year.

"We're looking forward to hearing his insights on the implementation of the new health care law, tax and spending issues, financial services regulation and other important topics facing our members, their businesses and the American economy," President and CEO Robert Rusbuldt said of Boehner's appearance at the event, according to Insurance Journal.

According to a press release from the IIABA:

"Speaker Boehner has been a longtime friend of our small business owners in his home state of Ohio and, as a former small business person himself, can provide an important perspective our members will appreciate," says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big "I" senior vice president for government affairs. The Speaker's focused commitment to removing government barriers in order to create more jobs and economic growth go hand-in-hand with many of the Big 'I's' goals."

While the exact direction of the lobbying efforts is has not been announced, the group is expected to continue their drive to oppose health care reform and attempts to increase insurance regulations. As ThinkProgress reports:

The IIABA has been a staunch opponent of President Obama's health reform law, and supports House Republicans' misguided attempt to repeal it. The group's PAC spent nearly $2 million in the 2010 election cycle alone, including a $10,000 donation to Boehner.