Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Wednesday, February 24, 2016

 

Senators try “herding” lobbyists to address insurance issue

Two state senators hosted a standing-room only meeting Tuesday afternoon for those interested in assignment of benefits legislation that could grow more complicated with an expected amendment dealing with attorney fees.  Politico Florida’s Daniel Ducassi and Christine Sexton report.

 

Unlikely Battle Over Fracking Intensifies in Florida

When fracking began in Florida, neither residents nor local governments knew about it because well stimulation, the catch-all term for both techniques, does not require a separate permit and is not regulated.  The New York Times’ Lisette Alvarez reports.

 

$50M Suit Challenges Florida’s Suspension of Driver’s Licenses in DUI Cases

A federal lawsuit is challenging the way driver’s licenses are automatically taken away from drunken-driving suspects in Florida.  The Associated Press’ Mike Schneider reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Florida House set to OK public pension changes

The Florida House pushed forward Tuesday with a controversial bill that would overhaul public retirement benefits, batting away a Democratic amendment looking to separate a widely supported change to death benefits from a contentious effort to place more employees in a 401(k)-style plan.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via the Palm Beach Post.

 

Senate Panel postpones confirmation vote on Surgeon General John Armstrong

With his confirmation on shaky ground, Senate leaders Tuesday pulled a vote on whether Dr. John Armstrong, Florida’s surgeon general, should keep his job.  The Tampa Bay Times Michael Auslen and Steve Bousquet report.

 

Lack of agreement on tax cuts stalls Tallahassee budget talks

The Florida Legislature has exactly two weeks to agree on a state budget for the 2016 session to end on time, and Senate leaders said Tuesday they have not made much progress with the House on a key question: the size of a tax cut package.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.

 

Enterprise Florida hits back at Americans for Prosperity

Enterprise Florida, the state’s mostly taxpayer-funded economic development arm, has called on Americans for Prosperity to close its Florida operation in the wake of the group’s push to defeat Governor Rick Scott’s proposed pot of economic incentive funding.  Politico Florida’s Matt Dixon reports.

 

Despite Ruling, No End in Sight for Red Light Cameras

In Tallahassee, a bill to repeal the law authorizing the cameras is heading to the floor of the Florida House. In Orlando, a panel of judges ruled that, at least in one case, the city’s ticketing system was illegal.  Jeff Weiner and Bethany Rodgers report for the Orlando Sentinel.

 

In Florida, many Republicans are calculating the cost of supporting Donald Trump

It’s no surprise that a small army of former Jeb Bush supporters in Florida is shifting support to Florida Senator Marco Rubio.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith reports via “The Buzz” blog.

 

Florida presidential primary ballots include many candidates who are no longer running

Yes, Florida’s ballots for the March 15 presidential candidates include the names of nine candidates who have dropped out, the Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man reports.

 

Insurance Industry Analyzes Google’s Failed Online Insurance Experiment

 

The insurance industry had a lot to say about what Google did wrong a day after the search engine giant said it would be pulling the plug on its year-long Google Compare experiment selling auto insurance online.  Don Jergler reports for Insurance Journal.

 

 

 

 

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