Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, June 6
Jun 6, 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
- 10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Board of Governors meeting; To view the meeting notice, click here.
New RMS Hurricane Model Approved In Florida
The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology has approved catastrophe modeling firm Risk Management Solutions’ new hurricane model.
State to shutter Argus property insurer
State officials ordered North Miami Beach-based Argus Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. to cease operations.
Fraud, new codes making hurricane credits harder to get
If Citizens Insurance is sending an inspector to verify that your home is hurricane?
Governor talks windstorm rates in visit
Governor Rick Scott got an earful about windstorm Insurance rates during his first visit to the Florida Keys since taking office in January, telling The Citizen on Saturday that he heard about it “everywhere” he went.
Paige St. John to talk insurance
Sarasota reporter to reveal findings at chamber event
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paige St. John will discuss the insurance industry at 6 p.m. June 15 in the Casa Marina Resort in Key West.
Column: Insurance rage yields to decorum
My new journalistic hero, Pulitzer Prize winner Paige St. John, was cool and collected and oh-so-knowledgable on the stage at New College’s Sainer Pavilion Wednesday evening for the Herald-Tribune’s “Hot Topics” forum on Florida homeowner’s insurance.
Clearwater Fire & Rescue’s rating could bring property insurance rates down
Your Insurance may drop due to fire department
Clearwater Fire & Rescue has improved its Insurance Services Office rating from a Class 3 to a Class 2, which could result in lower property insurance rates for some city residents.
People attend hurricane fairs to get ready for the season
Treasure Coast residents geared up for the 2011 hurricane season, stocking up on supply checklists, tracking maps and local shelter information at area hurricane expos on Saturday.
Editorial: In Florida, property insurance now a rigged game
What did we hear in 2006, after two bad hurricane seasons?
Lawmakers hope new bill fixes hurricane insurance
Florida hasn’t been hit by a hurricane since the disastrous years of 2004 and 2005 – but the state’s property insurance companies say they are still losing money despite collecting billions in premiums.
Editorial: Storms could topple Citizens insurance
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, and once again the weather experts are forecasting a very active season, with more major storms than in a typical year.
Lynne McChristian of the Insurance Information Institute: Property Insurance Changes Won’t Harm
It’s time for straight talk to put the recent legislative changes for property insurance in Florida into context.
Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers: International reinsurers help Florida
The recent editorial, new property insurance law won’t help consumers: Despite your editorial’s unflattering innuendo with regard to the international reinsurance industry, it’s important for readers to understand that international reinsurers are strong financial backers of Florida’s insurance companies and are committed to the Florida market.
Letter to the Editor: When the going gets tough, insurers get going
All of your readers in Florida are watching the devastation in the Midwest with sympathy.
Opinion: Storm time: Batten down wallets and pray
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on Wednesday, and once again the weather experts are forecasting a very active season, with more major storms than in a typical year.
Broward judge rules red-light cameras in; cops writing tickets out
A Broward County judge ruled on Friday that cops writing red-light infraction tickets is unconstitutional because the fine is different than a fine given by those caught by a red-light camera.
State gives hospitals another 20 days to come up with $45 million to avoid cuts
State asking for the money amid a shortfall in the account used to help provide funding for Medicaid.
Governor Scott Signs Bill to Push Florida’s Low-Income, Elderly into Managed Care
Governor Rick Scott on Thursday signed a landmark Medicaid overhaul that calls for shifting hundreds of thousands of low-income and elderly Floridians into managed-care plans.
School District smokers to pay more for insurance in Palm Beach
The Associated Press Palm Beach County School District employees who smoke will have to pay at least $50 extra per month for their health Insurance starting next year.
Editorial: Hurricane insurance-Will new law be the fix?
Florida hasn’t been hit by a hurricane since the disastrous years of 2004 and 2005 — but the state’s property insurance companies say they are still losing money despite collecting billions in premiums.
Pink slips already have thinned the ranks of staff at the state agency overseeing Florida Keys development decisions.
Governor Scott Questions Value of Agriculture Department’s Consumer Divisions
It’s called the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, but the name might have to change if Governor Rick Scott gets his way.
Entitlements Debate Sets Tone for 2012
Reforms of Medicaid, Medicare could be key to 2012 in Florida
If the 2010 midterm elections were defined by the conservative revolt against a government overhaul of the way health care is delivered in the private sector, the 2012 elections could be a statement on government health-care entitlement programs — Medicare and Medicaid.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Project Vote, a national voting rights group, filed suit in federal court Friday to challenge the implementation of Florida’s controversial new election law.
Saying Florida needs “good science to make good decisions,” state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam suggested Friday that the battle with Washington over water-quality standards might be easing.
Ironically, Fair Districts Act Could Aid Senator Bennett’s Congressional Run
Though he vehemently opposed Amendments 5 and 6, which required that legislative districts be drawn according to counties and defined municipalities whenever possible (rather than for political purposes), Florida Senator Michael Bennett may now benefit from the new voter-driven referendums which were cleared by the Department of Justice this week.
Governor Rick Scott’s veto of public TV and radio funds spares capital’s WFSU
Even as public television and radio stations across Florida work furiously to cope with the recent veto of nearly $4.8 million in state funding, there is one public broadcaster that will see its state support increased.
Governor Rick Scott has lofty goals for Florida ports
As he stiff-armed the Obama administration’s offer of $2.4 billion for high-speed rail, Governor Rick Scott embraced a far less sexy alternative: lumbering cargo ships.
State may kick black bear, 15 other species off imperiled list
Florida wildlife managers insist bear hunting is not on the table, but the issue is likely to dominate the debate this week as they consider a massive overhaul of the state’s endangered species list.
Blog: Rumors of new education commissioner, shake-up in Governor Rick Scott’s office abound
The Buzz is that Stephen MacNamara, the chief of staff-general counsel in Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ office, is the top choice to become Governor Rick Scott’s new chief of staff.
What if the worst U.S. hurricanes happened today?
Think you know what the worst hurricane in U.S. history would be in terms of today’s loss exposures?
Industry Throws Support Behind 2 Disaster-Preparedness Bills
Two industry-supported bills that would provide federal financial incentives to strengthen homes against major storms were introduced in the House this week.
Senate Schedules National Flood Insurance Program Hearing
Reacting to the ticking clock and pressure from multiple industries, the Senate Banking Committee will take the first step toward reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program when it holds a hearing on the issue on June 9.
Wait for Chinese drywall fix drags on
Almost eight months after a pilot program was announced by a Chinese manufacturer to fix 300 homes with defective drywall, some Southwest Florida homeowners say they are tired of waiting.
Feds to provide hospital performance data
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced June 3 a program that would use both Medicare and private claims data to compare how hospitals and health care providers do on measures of quality.
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