Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Oct 18, 2016
Hurricane Matthew-Related Insurance Claims Pass the 75,000 Barrier
The number of Insurance Claims filed following Hurricane Matthew has now surpassed 75,000, State Regulators announced Monday. Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Rick Scott: Florida Needs Full Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Matthew Damage
The Federal Government has already approved portions of the Governor’s request for a Major Declaration in Florida, but Scott says it isn’t enough to deal with all of the impact from the storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 and a Category 3 Storm. Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Scott Visits St. Augustine to Boost Tourism After Matthew
Hard-Hit St. Johns County wants Visitors to know it’s open for business, Ashley Harding reports for WXTJ-TV.
Here’s Why Gas Prices in Florida Have Risen Since Hurricane Matthew
Until the Market showed signs of stabilizing on Sunday, gas prices had risen 16 consecutive days in Florida for a total jump of 11 cents, in large part due to supply chains disrupted by the storm, the Tampa Bay Times’ Jeff Harrington reports.
Congressman Visits King Tide Flooding in Fort Lauderdale to Call for Environmental Investment
Congressman Ted Deutch, D-Fla. said he was surprised by how swiftly water poured out of storm drains to deluge the streets and sidewalks, the Sun-Sentinel’s Brett Clarkson reports.
Hurricane Matthew Delivers a Reminder of Life on Florida’s Coast
It is the scenario that keeps State Insurance Regulators up at night. A second storm on the heels of a Hurricane Matthew would leave no other choice than to go to the Bond Markets, a costly step that once again, relies on Taxpayers to repay the State’s Borrowings. Florida Wildlife Federation Manley Fuller gives his opinion via the Florida Times-Union.
Company Denying Blame for Hogans Creek Pollution Banked Millions from Insurance, Court Filing
A Company fighting a City Lawsuit over Old Industrial Pollution around Jacksonville’s Hogans Creek has collected $4 Million from Environmental Insurance Policies a second Company says show liability, papers filed by the second Company say. Steve Patterson reports for the Florida Times-Union.
Legislator Calls on Florida Law Enforcement Agency to Investigate Taxi Company Uber Relationship
Emails released Friday Volunteers who worked for Taxi Companies were knowingly used to “Hail” Drivers in the Uber and Lyft Platforms in order to have Inspectors issue Civil Citations to the Drivers for operating against Regulations. Janelle Irwin reports for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Surprise Bills: Ambulance Charges Slam Consumers Up to $37K Per Ride
Florida Consumers generally have no way to shop around in an emergency, but they have reported being stunned by Out-of-Pocket Charges up to $1,000 or more for Ground Ambulance Rides and more than $37,000 in the air during the last three years, a State Working Group heard Monday. The Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports for the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.
Nearly 750,000 South Floridians Affected by Tenet, Humana Dispute
A Contract Dispute between the Hospital Chain Tenet Healthcare and the Insurer Humana could affect thousands of Patients in South Florida, the Sun-Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher reports.
South Florida’s Biggest Nursing Home Pharmacy Pays Big Kickbacks Fine
Omnicare, a giant Nationwide Specialty Pharmacy whose South Florida Outlet delivers medicines to 150 Nursing Homes and Assisted-Living Facilities in the Region, has agreed to pay a $28 Million Fine for taking kickbacks for recommending an epilepsy drug to its Customers. The Miami Herald’s James Martin Rose reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Federal Judge Blasts Florida Secretary of State in Voting Case
A Federal Judge blasted Florida Officials Sunday night, calling a provision of State Law that rejects some Vote-by-Mail Ballots “Obscene” Disenfranchisement and directing Officials to take steps to fix how some of those Ballots are processed in the Battleground State. CNN’s Ariane De Vogue reports.
Florida’s Democratic Voters Now Outnumbering GOP Voters in Submitting Mail-in Ballots
In the race to return Mail-in Ballots, Democratic Voters have surpassed Republican Voters, according to the latest data released by the State Elections Office. Matt Dixon reports for Politico Florida.
Rubio, Murphy Go After One Another in Policy-Infused Senate Debate
After weeks of sniping at each other on the campaign trail, Marco Rubio and Patrick Murphy were able to do it in person Monday night in their first of two scheduled U.S. Senate Debates before Election Day. Kristen M. Clark and Jeremy Wallace report for the Tampa Bay Times.
One of Two Write-In Candidates to be State Senator Representing Naples Drops Out
State Representative Kathleen Passidomo’s only opposition in her Florida Senate Race is a Write-In Candidate who doesn’t live in the District and another who has dropped out of the race. Arek Sarkissian reports for the Naples Daily News.
Bucking Party, 2 Republicans Back Minimum Wage Increase
Conservative Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and State Senator Anitere Flores joined Democrats in Miami and across the state Monday to do what would have been unthinkable four years ago — endorse a $15 minimum wage in Florida. Mary Ellen Klas reports for the Miami Herald.
Debate over Amendment 1 and its Effect on Florida Solar Reaches New Intensity
Florida’s “Net Metering” Rule was expanded in 2008 to require larger Homeowners and Businesses that produce Renewable Energy to be paid or credited by utilities for the energy they produce. Bruce Ritchie reports for Politico Florida.
New Faces Will Lead on Education Issues in the Florida Legislature, But Who?
For the first time in a while, New Leaders will guide Florida’s Education Policy Conversations. Term Limits and Retirements claimed nearly all the last session’s Education Committee Chairs — most of whom had been in place for years. Jeffrey Solocheck reports for the Tampa Bay Times.
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