MIKE Kreidler deserves a fourth term as Washington state insurance commissioner.

Granted, that's a long time in office, but Kreidler is the best choice for what lies ahead as the state wrestles with health-care issues brought about by the federal Affordable Care Act, recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kreidler says President Obama's reform package is one of the few major opportunities in the past 100 years for the country to address health-care issues, including the role insurance will play. He doesn't want to see that opportunity wasted and hopes that out of it will come a way to cover the 1 million uninsured people in Washington state.

He also has unfinished business that should be completed. That would be his efforts to get the Legislature to approve a bill allowing the insurance commissioner to consider surplus money insurance companies hold when they are seeking a rate increase. Under present law, the commissioner's office is not allowed to take that money into account when making a decision.

Kreidler has tried three times to get a bill passed, and three times the Legislature has let him down. He says he will try again. He should have that opportunity.