Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Thursday, January 8, 2015
Jan 8, 2015
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
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
PIP insurance could continue to get green light
Senate Banking and Insurance Chairwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, said she is still reviewing a Florida Offfice of Insurance Regulation report before considering any action that could change Personal Injury Protection insurance coverage. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via the Sun-Sentinel.
Governor Rick Scott’s health care agency is asking for up to $2.7 million in additional funds to hire private lawyers to fight a judge’s ruling that the state has systematically deprived children on Medicaid of needed health and dental care. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Rick Scott’s budget could have big cuts for Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Now that the Florida Medicaid managed-care system is in place, Governor Rick Scott’s proposed 2015-16 budget could cut several positions at the Agency for Health Care Administration, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Almost 1,200 same-sex marriages already in Florida’s largest metros
Almost 1,200 gay and lesbian couples were issued marriage licenses in Florida’s 20 most-populous counties during the first two days a ban on same-sex marriage was lifted, according to a survey of clerks’ of court by the Associated Press. SaintPetersBlog.com carries the story.
Negron says he now has majority support in Senate President race; Latvala dares him to prove it
State Senator Joe Negron, R-Stuart, says he has “a majority” of Senate Republicans backing his bid to become leader of that chamber for a two-year term starting in 2017. Matt Dixon reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Governor Scott, Senate President Gardiner hold small-talk luncheon
Gov. Rick Scott invited Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, to lunch at the governor’s mansion Wednesday. The leaders, accompanied by their chiefs of staff, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Scott aide Kim McDougal, spent an hour engaged in small talk. Purely social, nothing too serious. Tampa Bay Times Steve Bousquet reports.
Florida Senate panel mulls where environmental windfall goes
Environmentalists said Wednesday they were encouraged by a Senate panel’s first approach toward spending more than $750 million suddenly on hand for conservation programs next year under a voter-approved measure. The Palm Beach Post’s John Kennedy reports for the “Post on Politics” blog.
Unfinished Business Remains for Cabinet Members
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t give speeches during an inauguration ceremony that featured Scott taking the oath of office and speaking to the crowd. SunshineStateNews.com’s Jeff Henderson reports.
Petition drive begins for solar energy ballot measure
Backers of broader use of solar energy in Florida have quietly launched a petition for the 2016 ballot that would allow those who generate electricity from the sun to sell the power directly to other consumers. The Miami Herald’s Amy Hollyfield reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
U.S. House Pushes Through TRIA Reauthorization
Insurance industry officials said this afternoon that Senate action on reauthorizing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act is likely Thursday, a decision obviously made against the background of today’s terrorist attack on a Paris magazine office that killed 12 people. National Underwriter’s Arthur Postal reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@colodnyfass.com.