Capitol to Courthhouse Headliners: Friday, October 9

Oct 9, 2009

 

 

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Tower Hill, Nationwide worked closely on Florida policy switches

When Nationwide Insurance went to the state with a plan to unload 60,000 Florida homeowner policies, it already had lined up Gainesville-based Tower Hill Insurance Group as an alternative for those policyholders.

 

Small Florida Insurers Rush In On The Quiet After The Storms

As big insurance companies back away from insuring homes along the hurricane-prone coast of Florida, some small, nimble insurers are moving in – at least until the next big storm.

 

Fla. Senator asks FEMA for Chinese drywall disaster assistance

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has joined with three other senators to send a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency that asks the agency to review whether it has the power to provide aid to homeowners displaced by defective Chinese drywall.

 

Fla. Attorney General to Legislature: Expand Advisory Council, Provide More Expert Advice for State Board of Administration

Attorney General Bill McCollum today sent a letter to Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul, calling for an expansion of the State Board of Administration’s Investment Advisory Council.

 

Republican Rick Joyce announces run for Fla. House District 25

Today, Republican Rick Joyce announced that he has officially launched his campaign for Florida House of Representatives, District 25.

 

Florida’s Democrats differ on party finance rules

Florida Democratic leaders disagreed sharply Thursday over rules changes that would relax control of party finances.

 

Fla. Justices: Police Lights May Nullify Evidence

Evidence seized by police can be thrown out of court in some cases if officers turned on their cars’ flashing lights without having a reasonable suspicion of a crime, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

 

Fla. schools, and state, in bind over nurses

Florida nursing schools are being forced to turn away well-qualified applicants because the state doesn’t have enough space in its programs.

 

Managing growth a hot button topic

The vote on a ballot measure giving residents more say in how their local governments manage growth is still a year away. Yet it is already shaping up to be one of the most contentious issues ever placed before Florida voters.

 

Tallahassee’s culture of anything goes

Despite ruling, former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom’s actions still not ethical

There is criminal misconduct, and there’s unethical behavior. In Tallahassee, sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint which is which.

 

South Florida corruption investigation may lead to more arrests, feds say

Federal authorities confirmed Thursday what South Florida’s power elite has assumed for the past week: the public corruption investigation revolving around a well-connected Hollywood political fund raiser and power broker is far from over.

 

FPL must pay $25M penalty for Brevard outage

The Florida Power & Light Company must pay a $25 million penalty for a massive outage that left hundreds of thousands of customers in Brevard and across the state without power last year, according to an agreement announced Thursday.

 

Mississippi Court Rules Home Insurance Policy Covers Hurricane Wind Damage

In a 9-0 decision, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that so-called “all-risk” home insurance policies may cover wind damage from hurricanes, even in situations where the loss is later exacerbated by water from storm surge.

 

NAIC Looks To End Exclusive Reliance On Rating Agencies 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is preparing to vote on a proposal that would end regulators’ exclusive reliance on rating agencies for determining risks associated with insurers’ residential mortgage backed securities investments.

 

Greenberg Sends Mixed Signals On Regulatory Reform 

While warning against imposing additional laws and new federal overseers on an already heavily-regulated insurance industry, Maurice Greenberg, AIG’s former chief executive, said rating agencies need government supervision, while credit default swaps should be regulated as insurance.

 

P&C Trades Unite Against Ending Health Antitrust Immunity 

A group of nine property and casualty insurance industry trade groups today charged that legislation proposed in Congress, that would end the exemption under antitrust laws for healthcare insurers, had a hidden agenda of opening up some segments of the insurance industry to more lawsuits.

 

Kanjorski revamps bill calling for federal insurance office

Legislation aimed at creating a national insurance office has a new name, but the same proponent seeking to establish a federal insurance regulator.

 

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