Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Tuesday, May 27
May 27, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
South Florida officials urge hurricane planning
South Florida are urging residents to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, the Associated Press reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- Property owners better protected as hurricane season nears
- “Insane” insurance market roils before storm season
New data add dimension to Pinellas flood risk assessment
Aerial sensors used to map the contours of the Earth’s surface could help Pinellas County officials assess how future property values along the coast will be affected by flood risk and the ever-increasing costs of insuring against it, Josh Boatwright reports for the St. Petersburg Tribune.
Africa Can Tap Global Reinsurance Markets, Why Not Florida?
In what can only be taken as an exceedingly encouraging sign for emerging markets around the world, an African Union-created agency has established the continent’s first-ever catastrophe insurance pool, offering coverage to the nations of Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger and Senegal to protect against extreme weather and threats to the food supply, explains Ray Lehmann for the RStreet Blog.
Florida ranks in bottom half of states for senior health
Florida seniors are pretty good at watching their weight and they get the best diabetes treatment in the country, but they still drink too much alcohol, and home health care can be very hard to come by.
Brevard oncologist loses $89 million Medicare fraud case
A Brevard County doctor, Wasfi Makar , was hit with an $89 million judgment last week in a whistleblower Medicare fraud case, Paul Brinkmann and Marni Jameson report for the Orlando Sentinel.
Personal spending increase for Medicaid patients goes to Scott
In a cost-of-living adjustment more than 25 years overdue, the Legislature approved a $35.4 million increase to raise the monthly personal spending allowance for Medicaid patients in long-term care facilities from $35 to $105, Barbara Peters Smith reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Taxwatch finds $121 million in “turkeys,” but problem is process not projects
The annual hunt for budget “turkeys” by Florida TaxWatch, a pro-business, low-tax think tank, revealed $121 million in questionable projects, according to the group’s report released Friday, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Florida Trial Over Political Maps Enters Second Week
A trial to determine whether state legislators broke the law when drawing up new political maps is entering its second week, the Associated Press reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Scott set to introduce small business policies
Florida Governor Rick Scott is set to introduce new policies focused on small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Bar panel calls for “diversity” in judicial nominating process
Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Bar should review selection procedures for judges and appoint a special “diversity” officer to help get more black, Hispanic and other under-represented minority lawyers into the judicial system, a special task force recommended on Friday, The Florida Current’s Bill Cotterell reports.
Scott, Chiles, Rich to share stage July 10-11
The Florida Press Association and Florida Society of News Editors have announced dates for two forums for Florida’s 2014 gubernatorial race, Allen Bartlett reports for Scripps “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Bogdanoff to decide soon whether to challenge Sachs for Florida Senate
When the 2012 redistricting pitted Democratic state Senator Maria Sachs against Republican state Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff in a new Palm Beach-Broward Senate district, the resulting clash of incumbents – the only senator vs. senator race in Florida – was expensive and nasty. The Palm Beach Post’s George Bennett reports.
Boca’s Hager one of few state reps to face serious challenge
Just seven of South Florida’s 37 incumbent state representatives face any serious competition as the June 20 filing deadline to run for statewide and county offices nears, reports Dan Sweeney of Sun Sentinel.
In male-dominated Florida Legislature, Jeanette Núñez emerges as effective lawmaker
Jeanette Núñez was on the biggest stage of her legislative career, Kathleen McGrory writes for the Tampa Bay Times.
Federal Legislation Highlights Availability of Private Flood Insurance
Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would clarify that private flood insurance should be an option available to homeowners, reports Arthur Postal for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
Hensarling, Opponent of Flood-Reform Rollback & Dodd-Frank Finding Few Allies
When Jeb Hensarling took over the congressional panel that spawned the Dodd-Frank Act, he vowed to roll back the landmark Wall Street law and eliminate government programs that backstop private markets, Bloomberg’s Cheyenne Hopkins reports via National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
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