Capitol to Courthouse Daily Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, February 16
Feb 16, 2011
To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below. Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2011
- Daily Insurance-Related News
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
- 8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. — Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations. Florida Department of Financial Services, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation presentations on Schedule VIIIB Reduction Proposals for Fiscal Year 2011-12
- 9:00 a.m. — House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
- Presentation on the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model
- 10:00 a.m. — Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies Board of Directors meeting; Teleconference, 888-808-6959; conference code: 9226020. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2011
No insurance-related bills have been filed.
State Farm defends 28% rate hike plan
State Farm Florida defended its proposal to increase homeowners’ Insurance rates an average of 28 percent during a public hearing Tuesday as necessary because the company’s finances have dwindled amid recent hurricane-free years.
Representative Jeff Brandes Rejects Neal Bill Increasing Reinsurance Taxes
State Senator Alan Hays, Heartland Institute and James Madison Institute join opposition
State Representative Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, announced at a media event Tuesday that he has introduced a memorial in the Florida House opposing a bill from U.S. Representative Richard Neal, D-Mass., raising taxes on reinsurance premiums.
South Florida could see heavy wildfire season
South Florida heads into peak wildfire season with the ground parched from lack of rain, raising the danger of brush fires that could threaten houses, generate air pollution and cause car crashes
Jury to determine who picks up the check for dream home turned Wilma disaster
When John Sebo toured what was billed as a “dream compound” in the heart of Old Naples in 2004, he immediately decided to purchase it.
New flood maps affect 24,000 properties in Hernando County
More than 24,000 Hernando County property owners will soon have their properties classified as flood risks for the first time.
Florida’s Brown & Brown Acquires Two Massachusetts Agencies
Daytona Beach, Florida-based insurance broker Brown & Brown said today that it has acquired two Massachusetts agencies specializing in employee benefits.
Fire that tore through Merritt Island home likely started with dryer, officials say
Four people were displaced and a pet killed in a fire at a Merritt Island rental home this afternoon, Brevard County firefighters said.
Increased New York, Florida auto claims drag down Allstate’s profitability
Allstate Corp. said its profitability was within its annual outlook, despite higher catastrophe losses, lower net investment income and increased frequency of auto claims, especially in New York and Florida.
Industry Backs New York No-Fault Reform Bill; Florida Also Pushing For Change
The insurance industry is applauding the introduction of a bill that could corral costs related to fraud and abuse of New York’s no-fault automobile insurance system.
Florida might try to be first state to withdraw from Medicaid
The lead author of a proposal to overhaul the state Medicaid program said Tuesday that if the federal government rejects the plan, Florida might become the first state to withdraw from the program and instead craft its own, pared-down alternative.
Scott names general counsel, installs Department of Transportation staff ahead of naming secretary
Governor Rick Scott today announced that Charles Trippe will be his in-house general counsel.
Lawmakers Leap to Defense of Trust Funds
Despite previous raids, they blast Scott proposal to ‘zero out’ Sadowski housing account.
Blog: Governor’s attempt to reach out to black lawmakers sparks tensions
Governor Rick Scott welcomed African-American legislators to lunch Tuesday at the Governor’s Mansion, but his choice of words left some feeling more alienated than ever.
Governor Rick Scott has been making the rounds of government agencies, speaking to employee
Federal takeover? Legislators aren’t told about Florida’s role in water standards battle
Florida legislators who made angry comments about new water quality standards for Florida weren’t being told about the state’s key involvement in the issue two years ago.
Senate President: “Superior” state worker benefits need to be brought in line.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos made it clear on Monday that changing state employee benefits — including both pension benefits and health insurance benefits — will be a part of his agenda for the upcoming session.
Alexander says that fellow senator should apologize to Scott’s staff
Senator J.D. Alexander thinks an apology is in order.
Alexander, R-Lake Wales and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday said Governor Rick Scott’s policy coordinator Bonnie Rogers wasn’t treated with deference last week when she appeared before a Senate panel and explained the governor’s budget on prisons for the upcoming fiscal year.
Florida Chamber CEO calls upcoming Legislative session “our time”
Forgive Mark Wilson, head of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, if he sounds supremely confident that his probusiness agenda to “realign the way government works” will largely sail through Tallahassee this upcoming session.
Former Minnesota Governor Pawlenty visits Florida lawmakers
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential 2012 presidential candidate, will address Republican lawmakers at the old Capitol.
With license plate registration fees having doubled within the last two years, Reprsentative Jeff Brandeshas introduced legislation which would make discounted plates available to all Floridians.
Obama’s Budget Proposal Brings Foreign Tax Issue Back Into Focus
The Obama administration’s budget proposal has reopened the debate over taxing certain reinsurance premiums ceded to foreign insurers by their U.S. affiliates.
Kentucky licenses 25 captives in 2010
Kentucky licensed 25 captives in 2010, bringing the state’s year-end total to 127 as Kentucky continued its rapid growth as a captive insurance company domicile.
Home insurance premiums predicted to rise this year
The average cost of home Insurance is expected to rise again in 2011 for the third straight year.
Wall Street Journal: The Weather Isn’t Getting Weirder
The latest research belies the idea that storms are getting more extreme.
Last week a severe storm froze Dallas under a sheet of ice, just in time to disrupt the plans of the tens of thousands of (American) football fans descending on the city for the Super Bowl.
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