Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, July 14
Jul 14, 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
(CANCELED) 10:00 a.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office National Clearinghouse Committee meeting. Agenda includes issues pertaining to the proposed national surplus lines tax clearinghouse. To view the meeting notice, click here.
State-backed Citizens could be privatized
Frustrated by the inability to win changes from state lawmakers, the chairman of the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. said on Wednesday that legislators should privatize part of the company.
Florida Governor Scott likes idea of selling Citizens
Governor Rick Scott quickly embraced a suggestion by the board chairman of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to consider privatizing Florida’s largest insurer of business and homes.
Chuck Grimsley: Get the facts on homeowners’ insurance changes
The June 27 article “Uptick in home¬owners insurance ‘only the beginning’ for soaring rates” contained misleading statements and omissions.
Chinese drywall settlement for thousands in Florida goes to court Thursday
Nicole Rodriguez hasn’t gotten a dime to replace her tainted Chinese drywall.
Senate Agriculture Committee to study plight of Lake Apopka farmworkers
A 2006 study for the Farmworker Association of Florida found that 79 percent of Lake Apopka farmworkers felt their exposure to pesticides had affected their health.
Palm Beach County Health Care District says no to inspector general’s oversight
The Palm Beach County Health Care District board voted against putting itself under the purview of the Palm Beach County Inspector General on Wednesday, objecting that the oversight would cost too much and raise patient privacy concerns.
Doctors ask federal judge to block new gun law
A hearing was held in Miami on Wednesday on whether to grant an injunction against a new state law that limits the ability of doctors to ask their patients about gun ownership.
Standard & Poor’s upgrades Florida’s credit
Florida’s budget-balancing act, which included layoffs and forced public employees to help pay for their pensions, has had one positive impact so far.
Foreclosures Down in Florida, but Court Funding Threatened
Declining foreclosures not due to better housing market
First, the good news: Florida foreclosures are down 60 percent for the first half of 2011, compared to the same period last year.
Politics reigns as sides meet to discuss redistricting
Political divides were on display Wednesday as Florida House and Senate committee members came to Santa Fe College for one of 26 meetings scheduled to gather public input on the redrawing of the state’s legislative and congressional districts following the 2010 Census.
Governor Scott meets with Homeland Security
Governor Rick Scott met with members of the Department of Homeland Security in Tallahassee Wednesday.
Labor secretary brings safety program to South Florida
Secretary of Labor reminds outdoor workers to keep hydrated and seek shade to avoid heat exhaustion
As the sun rose and the day grew warmer, Florida Power & Light Co. welcomed U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis to its Dania Beach plant.
Val Demings: Former Orlando police chief to run for Daniel Webster’s House seat
Val Demings, Orlando’s popular former police chief, wants to take freshman U.S. Representative Dan Webster’s seat away.
Expired purchasing contracts plague Sarasota County
Problems in Sarasota County’s purchasing department have gotten so bad that the county has stopped paying two businesses for basic government work, commissioners learned Wednesday.
Louisiana Joins Surplus Lines Coalition
Louisiana is now participating in an agreement designed to help states efficiently comply with the requirements of the federal surplus lines regulations that become effective later this month.
Employers get more time to comply with 401(k) fee-disclosure rule
The Labor Department said Wednesday that it will give employers with 401(k) and other participant-directed individual account plans more time to comply with a rule requiring the disclosure of fees and expenses of investment options offered by the plans.
Moody’s: Marsh & McLennan to Continue To Be Market Leader
Moody’s says it expects Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. to remain the preeminent player in its primary business of insurance broking and consulting, as moves to improve business performance gain traction.
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