Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Friday, May 30, 2014
May 30, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Benefits As Yield-Thirsty Investors Line Up for Hurricane Bonds
In 2008, Florida’s government-run property insurer paid Warren Buffett $224 million to agree to buy its debt if a major storm struck. Six hurricane-free years later, the state is turning investors away, Bloomberg’s Toluse Olorunnipa reports via Insurance Journal.
Sunshine State Insurance Company’s Future Unclear After United Deal Falls Through
The future for Florida’s Sunshine State Insurance Co. is unclear now that a deal by another insurer to rescue it has fallen through, Insurance Journal reports.
Portable shelters being tested in South Florida as storm season nears
The Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management are the first two South Florida governmental entities to acquire portable post-Storm workspace units, the Sun-Sentinel’s Erika Pesantes reports.
Florida tax holiday for hurricane supplies starts Saturday
Florida sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies for the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from May 31 through June 8, the Sun-Sentinel’s Doreen Christensen reports.
Elderly Floridians prepare for hurricane season
Experts say a lot of Florida’s 3.2 million residents 65 or older – about 1 in 5 Floridians – are not well prepared for hurricane season, which starts June 1, SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
Florida’s hurricane forecasters: Unpredictable paths to fame
Delivering the weather has put a whole new group of celebrities on the national radar: Florida meteorologists. The Associated Press’ Tamara Lush reports via the Miami Herald.
Complaint accuses four Florida health insurers of discrimination
Two health organizations filed a complaint with federal health officials Thursday alleging some Florida insurance companies are violating the Affordable Care Act by structuring their insurance plans in a way that discourage consumers with HIV and AIDS from choosing those plans, the Associated Press’ Kelli Kennedy reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Florida High court to weigh in on medical malpractice caps again
Less than three months after ruling that part of a controversial 2003 medical-malpractice law was unconstitutional, the Florida Supreme Court is ready to take up another dispute about limits on damages in malpractice cases, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida redistricting trial gets surprise witness – and a closed courtroom
The public and the press were ushered out of Leon County courtroom Thursday in the redistricting trial over the state’s congressional districts during the testimony of Republican political consultant Rich Heffley, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Son of Ormond Beach legislator found dead
The 26-year-old son of Republican State Rep. Dave Hood was found floating in a neighbor’s swimming pool in Ormond Beach, the Associated Press reports via the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Light vetoes predicted when Governor Rick Scott signs Florida budget
Florida Governor Rick Scott’s veto pen is looking more like a scalpel, as signs point to his trimming a fraction of spending in a record-high $77.1 billion election-year budget, Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet and Michael Van Sickler report for the Miami Herald.
Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida to call on RPOF to “come clean”
Florida’s Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) wants the Republican Party of Florida to “Come Clean in 2015,” SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
Backroom Briefing: Thrasher District Already in Play
In Tallahassee circles, it’s widely assumed that John Thrasher will get the top job at his alma mater, Florida State University, and that means behind-the-scenes discussions and digging have already started about who might run for his solidly Republican Northeast Florida Senate seat, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders and Dara Kam report via SunshineStateNews.com.
Medical pot users rarely have cancer or AIDS, Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot says
Florida’s proposed medical marijuana amendment is over who will use it, Politifact’s Joshua Gillin reports via the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.
Florida Supreme Court sends Rick Scott judicial appointment dispute to lower court
The Florida Supreme Court ordered a lower court to resolve a dispute over whether Gov. Rick Scott should appoint a circuit judge in Northeast Florida – or leave the choice to voters, SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
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