Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, August 5
Aug 5, 2011
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Judge dismisses suit against Florida insurance chief
A federal judge Thursday threw out a lawsuit against Florida’s insurance commissioner even though the official had opposed dismissing the case.
Uproar Over Sinkhole Rate Hike Builds
Citizens’ 429 percent increase proposal draws ire of legislators
A proposal by Florida’s largest property insurer to raise sinkhole premium rates by 429 percent across the state is facing a backlash from lawmakers, many of whom voted for a new law that allows the rate hike to take place.
Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate urges Citizens to phased-in hike
Florida’s insurance consumer advocate is telling Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to consider incremental rate increases on its sinkhole coverage instead of hitting its customers with unaffordable hikes.
No Middle Ground in Florida’s Sinkhole Rate Debate
Appointed and elected officials, property owners, and insurance groups in Florida continue to take sides in the ever-widening sinkhole debate. Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-created insurer with almost 1.4 million policyholders, has proposed rate increases for sinkhole coverage that supporters say are necessary and opponents call grossly excessive.
Florida woman sent to prison in Liberty National fraud
A federal judge has sentenced a Florida woman to 15 months in prison on charges that she defrauded the Alabama-based insurance company she worked for in Florida.
Local officials preparing for new gun law
Whether or not residents think that guns belong in Florida parks and public buildings, a bill approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott says they do.
Governor Rick Scott Reappoints Two Judges of Compensation Claims
Governor Rick Scott today announced the reappointments of Judge Timothy M. Basquill and Judge Doris E. Jenkins as Judges of Compensation Claims.
Daytona’s Brown & Brown acquires Washington agency
Brown & Brown has acquired a Bellevue, Wash.-based company that provides health and dental plans for small employers.
Acentria Acquires Florida’s Concord Commercial Insurance
Destin, Florida-based insurance agency Acentria has acquired Concord Commercial Insurance Agency in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Florida Health Choices insurance market for small companies advances
Florida Health Choices Inc. moved a step closer to offering an insurance marketplace for small employers, after the organization’s board of directors approved business rules for a pilot project.
Primary care programs could get cut if feds cut off health care money
The federal government has warned it may force Florida to end its low income pool by the end of 2013 as one of the conditions of extending the state’s current Medicaid waiver.
Florida Medical Association to feds: Reject Medicaid waiver
The Florida Medical Association voted to publicly oppose the state’s Medicaid overhaul and write a letter of concern to the federal government, according to three members of the organization.
Secretary of Florida Senate leaves job to take over watchdog agency
Philip Twogood, who has been secretary of the Senate since November 2008, has left his job to become the new head of the state office that keeps tabs on taxpayer money and whether government programs work.
Thousands of public employees head to the exits
New numbers from the state show a surge in the number of state workers and public employees who chose to enroll in the state’s alternative retirement program.
Hollywood senator launches probe of Florida attorney general’s office
After two foreclosure fraud investigators were abruptly dismissed from their posts with the attorney general’s office, and a former deputy attorney general left Tallahassee to join a firm under investigation for foreclosure malpractice, a Hollywood state senator has launched a probe into the state’s top legal office.
Blog: Foreclosure attorney Matt Weidner files to run against State Representative Jeff Brandes
In case there was any doubt about House District 52 being the most interesting race in Tampa Bay, foreclosure defense attorney Matt Weidner has filed to run against incumbent Republican Jeff Brandes.
Compromise primary date in the works?
Florida and national Republican Party leaders appear to be seeking a compromise over the state’s 2012 presidential primary date, with a primary sometime in the first five days of March.
Blog: 1 in 5 Florida Republicans calls self “moderate”
A poll of Florida Republicans says about one in five calls himself a “moderate” as opposed to “conservative” or “very conservative,” and indentified Pam Bondi of Tampa as the most popular Florida Cabinet member.
Putnam begins to assert himself on renewable energy
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Thursday that the “Florida Energy Summit” in October will replace the “Farm to Fuel” summit.
Metro Orlando leads state in ‘underwater’ home mortgages
Orlando continues to struggle with a bigger share of underwater homes than any other metro area in foreclosure-scarred Florida.
Collins Center president forced out, Miami’s Merritt Stierheim is temporary replacement
Amid sagging finances, the Collins Center board has forced out long-time president Rod Petrey and names Merrett Stierheim its temporary leader
The head of the Collins Center, one of Florida’s most well-respected think tanks, is being asked to resign in the face of serious cash flow troubles and frustration by a board of directors that demanded answers it wasn’t getting.
Primary sources: Why prison guards are suing to stop privatization
Last month, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, a union that represents prison guards and other corrections officers, filed a lawsuit calling for a judge to strike down budget language that would privatize prisons in 18 South Florida counties.
NAIC, NCOIL to Work on Harmonizing Surplus Lines Models
State insurance regulators and legislators will discuss later this month possible ways of harmonizing rival compacts designed to implement a surplus lines premium tax-sharing mechanism to implement a recent federal reform law.
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