Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, February 26
Feb 26, 2013
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 Florida-related insurance events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Weston Insurance Company
A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of B (Fair) and an issuer credit rating of “bb” to Weston Insurance Company. The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable.
Major Citizens Property Insurance Bill Could Be Hard To Pass
The Legislature appears to be on a path to make it harder for non-homesteaded homes, often owned by people living out-of-state, to be added to or remain under the umbrella of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
The Florida Current’s 2013 Session Outlook: Insurance
Perennially one of the most contentious subjects in the Legislature, battle lines over insurance issues are being drawn again ahead of the start of the legislative session March 5.
Florida Surplus Lines Association Names New Executive Director
The Florida Surplus Lines Association said it has named Larry Bodkin as its new executive director.
State’s largest private home insurer, Universal, gives new CEO $2 million salary
Universal Insurance Holdings, which owns the largest private homeowners insurance company in Florida, will pay its new CEO a salary of $2 million a year.
Holly Raschein: Socially Moderate Republican to Target Wastewater, Property Insurance
Monroe County’s new representative is no freshman to state politics, and her legislative experience and priorities reflect the ideological diversity of her district and the issues important to its constituents.
Blog: Is This Your First-and Last-Day at Work?
A temporary worker in Jacksonville, Fla. became that literally when he was killed his first day on the job. On August 16, 2012, Lawrence Daquan “Day” Davis, 21, reported for work at the Bacardi Bottling Corp. where he was, later that same day, crushed to death by a palletizer machine.
Blog: Firefighters ask the Legislature for help in battles with Disney-controlled government
After yet another bruising round of contract talks, the firefighters who work at Walt Disney World are turning to Tallahassee for help.
Florida court clerk denounces red light cameras
The Pinellas County clerk of courts is urging local cities to stop issuing traffic citations from red light cameras until flaws are worked out.
Florida doesn’t have enough doctors for Medicaid expansion, lobby group says
Brace yourself for longer lines at the doctor’s office.
Federal spending cuts could close 20 Florida airport facilities
Governor Rick Scott, who famously sold state airplanes as one of his first acts as Florida’s chief executive, could face flight delays at his hometown airport in Naples if massive federal spending cuts hit the state.
All condemn pending budget cuts, spread blame
The White House on Sunday stepped up its campaign to avoid across-the-board spending cuts scheduled in less than a week by releasing estimates of what reductions could mean in every state.
Investigation sought into Crystal River nuclear plant deal
Consumer advocates want Duke Energy to refund its Florida customers hundreds of millions of dollars for “woefully inadequate” handling of the now shuttered Crystal River nuclear plant.
Wall Street Journal: Russia Lawmaker Exits Amid Miami Condo Storm
A founding member of Russia’s ruling party resigned from Parliament on Wednesday, after opposition bloggers unearthed documents they said showed he owns waterfront properties in Florida that he didn’t mention in his parliamentary asset declarations.
Just after our story posted on the polling numbers and popularity of medical-marijuana, the following coincidentally happened to an activist mentioned in the piece.
State appeal court upholds water quality rules but delays remain
The 1st District Court of Appeal has affirmed an administrative law judge’s ruling in support for state water quality standards although implementation still is uncertain.
Florida Senate president a sharp-tongued orator
The Florida Senate’s new leader is a sharp-tongued orator and a throwback to when members of both major parties put aside ideological purity for the sake of getting things done.
Blog: 5 Questions For Senator Eleanor Sobel
Senator Eleanor Sobel is one of a handful of Democratic committee chairs in the Republican-dominated Legislature. Senate President Don Gaetz tapped her to lead his chamber’s Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, where she’s the moving spirit on a bill that would tighten protections for the residents of assisted living facilities.
Ex-Florida Senate president Childers gets new appeal
Former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers on Monday received another chance to clear his name from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Program helps homeowners challenge insurers after Sandy
New York State introduced a program Monday for homeowners battered by superstorm Sandy to challenge insurance companies, providing mediators to determine whether settlements were fair and if claims were improperly denied.
House Financial Services Committee to Federal Insurance Office: Want to see overdue reports
The House Financial Services Committee (HSFC), in a portion of its oversight plan for the 113th Congress, is urging the Federal Insurance Office to submit several “long overdue reports without further delay.”
Louisiana’s Assumption Parish Sinkhole Gets Bigger
The sinkhole in northern Assumption Parish, La., continues to grow.
New York Insurers Report Cards Show 70 percent of Sandy Claims Closed With Payment So Far
The New York regulators’ latest Sandy response report cards show 272,878 Sandy-related claims – representing 70 percent of some 389,801 Sandy claims filed in the state – have been closed with payment, as of February 15.
Will Texas Windstorm Insurer Remain After the Legislative Session?
Texas’ property insurer of last resort in coastal counties may have a difficult time remaining intact during the 2013 legislative session.
State Farm: No Plans to Move Illinois Headquarters
State Farm Insurance Co. says it isn’t moving its headquarters from Bloomington, despite recent media reports that the Illinois-based company is adding major office space in Dallas, Atlanta and Phoenix.
On average, California work injury claims from 2002 through 2011 that involve physician-dispensed repackaged drugs had 17 percent higher medical benefit costs, according to a new California Workers’ Compensation Institute study.
Insurance Agents Address Climate Change
As part of our special report on Climate Change and the Insurance Industry, PC360 asked five agents to discuss how, if at all, their business is responding to the issue. The producers represent a broad cross-section in terms of geography, size and specialties.
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