Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, June 18
Jun 18, 2012
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
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.–Legislative Roundtable. As Citizens Property Insurance Corporation considers another plan to raise rates, Florida Senator Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, and State Representative Frank Artiles, R-Miami, will host a public round table to discuss ways to avoid skyrocketing premiums. (Florida International University; Graham Ballroom, Miami, Florida)
Column: The only windstorm insurer possible – State government controlled
This writer has beaten the subject of windstorm insurance to death. Hernando Today has published columns I had written in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 discussing the recommendations of experts.
West Palm Beach considers whether to allow cottage repairs
For years, the city has had convoluted rules for cottages and garage apartments. Certain historic neighborhoods – such as El Cid, Flamingo Park, Grandview Heights and pockets of Northwood – allow the guest houses, which are often small homes in a larger home’s backyard.
A.M. Best Revises Outlook to Positive for FCCI Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries
A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of FCCI Insurance Company, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Brierfield Insurance Company, FCCI Commercial Insurance Company, FCCI Advantage Insurance Company, Monroe Guaranty Insurance Company and National Trust Insurance Company, operating collectively as FCCI Insurance Group.
Florida Agents’ Association Installs Laurie as Chair; Honors Gunter
The Florida Association of Insurance Agents installed its new officers and board members for the 2012-2013 at its 108th Annual Convention and Educational Symposium.
High court decision on health-care bill will set off a Florida scramble
The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the 2010 health care reform law will set off a scramble in Florida – no matter what the court decides.
Thrasher not running for Senate Presidency
Former Speaker announces he won’t run for the 2016 Senate presidency, leaving Latvala and Negron to battle for leadership position.
State cutbacks lead to closing of finance investigations
The Office of Financial Regulation will lose 81 positions and half of its regional offices when the new fiscal year starts on July 1, prompting it to close three finance-related investigations.
Blog: New voting purge lawsuit emerges
A coalition of voting groups plan to file a lawsuit tomorrow over Gov. Rick Scott’s non-citizen voting purge that has set off a dispute between the state and the Obama administration.
Florida judge hearing Obama ballot challenge
Lawyers for President Barack Obama and Gov. Rick Scott’s administration asked a judge Monday to dismiss a ballot challenge that alleges Obama is not a “natural born citizen.”
Lawmakers Could OK Prison Privatization Plan
With a judge still deciding whether the plan is constitutional, a legislative budget panel this month is expected to consider moving forward with the privatization of prison health services.
Ethics commission asking Legislature for more power to collect fines
The state’s ethics panel is planning to ask the Legislature to give it more teeth. Two key planks of the legislative agenda approved Friday are the automatic collection of fines from current government employees, and the ability to file liens against people who refuse to pay their fines.
Intrigue in Florida Senate race as Weinstein faces Bean
Weinstein faces opposition from GOP leaders in the state race to replace term-limited Senator Stephen Wise
When Mike Weinstein filed to run for state Senate, the Jacksonville Republican House member ran head-on into well-orchestrated plans of the state’s legislative leaders.
Top regulator Ken Lawson: “We’re not police”
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is normally not among the state’s high-profile agencies, but it drew negative publicity a couple of years ago when its inspectors conducted raids of barbershops in Pine Hills with Orange County sheriff’s deputies.
Rick Scott’s Welcome Message Can Fly at Tampa International
The governor can make his proposed recording to welcome and ask people to come back to Tampa International Airport without fear of crossing state ethics rules.
Assurant Finalizes 2012 Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Program
Assurant, Inc., a premier provider of specialized insurance and insurance-related products and services, today announced that it has finalized the structure of its 2012 Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Program.
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon: You need flood insurance
Louisiana residents should purchase flood insurance even if they don’t live in an area that’s prone to hurricanes or normal flooding, says Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon.
Washington Post: Built on sinking ground, Norfolk tries to hold back tide amid sea-level rise
At her cozy house by the river, Julie Faella spoke as though a monster lurks nearby. It rises under a tidal moon, she said, or when the winds howl, or when rains crash down.
Robot boats to sail into tropical storms, improve forecasts
They don’t look much like boats, or robots for that matter. Yet a small fleet of crewless watercraft are to be sent right into the paths of tropical storms for the first time this year with an important mission: Collect valuable ocean and atmospheric data that should improve hurricane forecasts.
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