Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, March 25
Mar 25, 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
Florida’s 2011 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
Above: 100 Years Ago Today-March 25 is the Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Tragedy-known as the deadliest workplace disaster prior to the World Trade Center attacks.
Legislature Overrides Crist Crop Insurance Veto, Makes Leadership Funds Bill Law
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, will now have greater say in funding the campaigns of their fellow legislators, thanks to a vote Thursday to override the veto of former Governor Charlie Crist.
Florida Homeowners Insurers Seek ‘Flex-Rating’ Up to 15%
Florida lawmakers are considering giving homeowners insurers more flexibility to raise rates.
Florida’s Homewise, First Home Insurance Companies to Merge
Two of Florida’s domestic insurance companies have announced that they plan to merge.
Florida Senator Bill Nelson wants hearings on drywall guidelines
Senators Bill Nelson and Mark Warner have called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to allow the public to comment on the agency’s controversial new guidelines for repairing homes with problematic drywall.
In heated legislative battles, it’s common for one industry to be painted as the “villain.” I find it curious that in current debates regarding insurance issues, the villain role is somehow being projected upon those who advocate for you, the people of Florida.
Florida ranks first in the nation in questionable auto Insurance claims, and Personal Injury Protection fraud has spiraled out of control.
Blog: Florida auto insurance premiums lower than national average
Believe it or not, Florida’s average automobile Insurance premium is lower this year than the national average, according to new ranking by Insure.com.
Florida crash reports now include section for ‘driver distraction’
In Port St. Lucie, the statistics speak for themselves.
Medicaid medical malpractice limits okay’d
Florida lawmakers moved Thursday toward placing new limits on medical-malpractice lawsuits involving Medicaid patients, arguing the move could help draw more doctors into the program.
Blog: Senate President wants Scott to release $35 million in Miami hospital money
Governor Rick Scott’s inaugural-day freeze on new contracts has drawn its first official push-back from Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ office: A letter asking him to release $35 million in federal stimulus money for Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Florida hospital urgent care centers may charge big, like Emergency Rooms
When Linda Romaniello’s 8-year-old daughter Natalie got nipped by a dog, they went to a new urgent care clinic near their home in Davie. Antibiotic gel and a Band-Aid fixed her right up.
Rick Scott Signs Teacher Performance Pay Into Law
On Thursday morning, at a school in Jacksonville, Governor Rick Scott signed into law SB 736 — legislation that reforms the way teachers are paid in the state of Florida.
Rule repeals fast-tracked for Scott, cabinet under new House proposal
Under a provision added on to a rulemaking bill that cleared a House panel Wednesday, Governor Rick Scott and members of the state cabinet may soon be able to bypass normal procedures and repeal hundreds of state agency rules currently under review by using an expedited “summary process.”
Tempers flaring in Florida House
A series of bills prompted testy exchanges and split votes even among Republicans on Wednesday.
Massive bill deregulating 20 professions moves through House
Tears and pleas from college students to continue regulating interior designers got nowhere Wednesday.
Blog: Corporate income tax cut? Maybe not this year House committee decides
Chalk this one up to the “go figure” category. If the Florida Legislature has its way, the federal government will offer a more generous tax break to corporations than Florida does. Florida’s corporate income tax usually tracks the federal language — except when that costs the state money.
Lawsuit shield added to House Medicaid plan
Representative Coley files bill to repeal septic waste spreading portion of last year’s big water quality bill March 24, 2011
Senate proposal would require legislative approval of water management district budgets
The Legislature would approve the budgets of the state’s five water management districts under a draft proposal being considered in the Senate.
Budget director suggested that Crist veto Sansom’s project
Jerry McDaniel, the governor’s budget director, testified on Thursday that he suggested that Crist veto $6 million that former House Speaker Ray Sansom put in the budget.
Blog: Connie Mack’s ‘major announcement’ on Senate race
U.S. Reprsentative Connie Mack tomorrow morning in Fort Myers will make “a major announcement regarding the 2012 race for the United States Senate in Florida against liberal incumbent Senator Bill Nelson.”
House may vote to reprimand and fine Representative Fullwood over elections dispute
House Rules Chairman Gary Aubuchon has recommended that the House vote to fine Representative Reggie Fullwood $1,220 to end a dispute over his voter registration.
Identification issue puts Florida ports at odds with police
A lucrative battle between the industry that each year brings roughly $60 billion in international trade Florida’s way and the state’s top police force is again playing itself out in committee rooms across the Capitol.
Blog: As goes Florida Hispanics in ’12, so goes Florida
A key element of the Democratic battleplan to win Florida for Barack Obama and Bill Nelson are Democratic-leaning Hispanics who went overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008 and then barely turned out in 2010. Last
House Panel Calls Second National Flood Insurance Program Meeting; Extension Bill Prepared Mar 24
A House panel will conduct a second hearing on the National Flood Insurance Program April 1, and mark up draft legislation April 6, according to officials briefed on the plan.
A.M. Best Announces Changes to A.M. Best’s Rating Classifications
A.M. Best is changing the “Not Rated” classifications assigned to insurance companies that do not receive a Best’s Credit Rating from A.M. Best Company, effective April 18, 2011.
NCOIL: Unaltered SLIMPACT Best For Surplus Lines Implementation
Officials of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators are reiterating their support for comprehensive legislation they drafted as the proper vehicle for implementing the surplus-lines and reinsurance law enacted by Congress last year.
100 Years Ago Today: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Tragedy and Insurance
At around closing time 100 years ago on March 25, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Asch Building on the corner of Greene Street and Washington Place in New York City.
‘Carancho’: Movie Examines Sleazy Side of Argentine Ambulance Chasers
The American term is “ambulance chaser,” and the shyster suspended lawyer in the gritty new Argentine film “Carancho” certainly qualifies – except that he usually gets there before the ambulance in his quest to extort from insurance companies covering the victims of car accidents and retaining a hefty fee for himself and his shady boss.
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