Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, November 20
Nov 20, 2012
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 insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Florida Governor Rick Scott Wants to Know Why Citizens Property Insurance Watchdog Team Was Fired
Governor Rick Scott is now backing calls to have the state inspector general look into why the corporate integrity team was dismantled at Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Florida Supreme Court Rules in 2 Sovereign Immunity Cases
The Florida Supreme Court last week put off a decision on whether Citizens Property Insurance Corp. can use its status as a state-backed entity to avoid lawsuits accusing it of bad faith in responding to claims.
The American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research: A Politician’s Guide to Insurance
The news of the horrible devastation from the east coast storm has brought calls for a national government-run catastrophe fund.
Florida regulators approve new lower-priced form of title insurance
Efforts to reduce or even review Florida title insurance rates have stalled for 20 years, but state regulators said Monday they have approved three insurers to offer a new lower-priced form of title insurance for loan modifications designed to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.
Oregon study prompts Florida to call for legislative reform to reduce workers’ compensation rates
Florida’s insurance commissioner was reacting to the report from the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services showing Florida jumped 11 spots, from 40th to 29th most expensive for workers’ compensation rates.
Florida insurance industry scholarships available
St. Johns River State College has a scholarship opportunity designed for students interested in working in the insurance industry.
Congressman Allen West concedes U.S. House race to Patrick Murphy
Republican U.S. Representative Allen West announced this morning that he won’t challenge Democrat Patrick Murphy’s narrow victory in their nationally watched battle for the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast congressional District 18 seat.
Florida Lawmakers meet today for organizational session
After months of politics, Florida lawmakers get down to governing today as the Legislature meets in organizational session with new leadership in both House and Senate.
- Legislative Leaders Expect More Reaching Across Aisle
- Blog: Weatherford and Thurston tell parties to stand their ground in upcoming session
- Freshman Capitol class should learn from past mistakes
Florida Senator Gaetz calls for new ethics rules, shakes up committee structure
The incoming Senate president wants senators to abstain from voting if there is a conflict of interest and is setting up two new committees dealing with health care and gambling.
Democrats pick legislative leaders
Florida Democratic lawmakers selected two Broward County legislators as their leaders Monday. Representative Perry Thurston of Plantation and Senator Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale will chair their respective chamber’s Democratic Caucus.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Lawsuit Could Bring Ruling on Legislative Budget Commission’s Power
A Leon County judge could soon decide just how far the Legislative Budget Commission can go in rewriting the state budget, paving the way for a potentially precedent-setting decision on the authority of the panel.
A Florida Department of Environmental Protection rule-making initiative to provide more consistency in construction permitting for wetlands and stormwater runoff is facing a delay of perhaps six months.
Judge hears lawsuit on prison health care privatization
Unions for public workers and the Florida Nurses Association contend the Department of Corrections and legislative leadership went too far when it requested bids from private corporations to provide services for inmates.
Florida home sales, prices jump in October
Sales and prices for homes and condos shot up last month, but state economists predict home prices will remain flat thought most of 2013 as more foreclosures hit the market.
Mississippi Kmart Flooding Case Set for Trial
The Mississippi city of Corinth and the Kroger Co. have asked a federal judge to dismiss them as defendants in a lawsuit over 2010 flooding at the Kmart in Corinth.
Consumer Federation of America: Insurers May Deny Sandy Fire Claims in Queens
The more than 100 homeowners who lost their homes to a fire after Superstorm Sandy struck Queens, N.Y. may be denied coverage because of anti-concurrent-causation clauses in homeowners policies, a consumer group warns, although an industry representative says claims in the area are currently being settled.
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