Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, April 17
Apr 17, 2009
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Ratings agency outlines concerns about some insurers
A South Florida ratings agency is questioning the financial strength of some property and casualty insurers – an issue recently spotlighted by one company’s receivership.
Universal North America’s Financial Rating Upgraded by Demotech
Universal Insurance Co. of North America has received an upgraded Financial Stability Rating of A’ (A Prime) Unsurpassed for its Florida operations from the rating organization Demotech.
Editorial: Trouble in the walls
Tainted building materials require more decisive action
Florida doesn’t need another problem with its troubled housing market, but the possibility of tainted drywall from Chinese suppliers has raised a serious issue about the safety of hundreds of thousands of homes — mostly across the Southeast — and it’s a possibility state and federal officials shouldn’t ignore.
Study lends credence to insurance plan
Floridians as a whole could save billions of dollars in home-owners insurance costs if a special funding pool was created in the state to cover hurricane losses, according to a study released Thursday by Florida economist Henry Fishkind.
FreedomWorks: Florida Needs Viable Insurance Market
With the hurricane season less than two months away, Floridians face increasing risks – not just from potential storms, but from poor public policy that makes it difficult to protect their homes.
Florida Wildlife Federation: Insurance shouldn’t subsidize development
Changing climatic conditions pose an unprecedented threat to U.S. coastlines, where the majority of Florida’s residents live and much of our economic activity occurs. Sea-level rise, temperature increases, changes in the severity and strength of storms and other climate-related changes are expected to occur over the coming decades.
Editorial: Trouble in the walls
Tainted building materials require more decisive action
Florida doesn’t need another problem with its troubled housing market, but the possibility of tainted drywall from Chinese suppliers has raised a serious issue about the safety of hundreds of thousands of homes — mostly across the Southeast — and it’s a possibility state and federal officials shouldn’t ignore.
Personal-waivers ruling worries businesses
Most parents sign the forms with little thought, but for years, businesses have relied on legalese in waiver forms to help protect them from lawsuits if children get hurt driving go-karts, riding horses or taking part in numerous other activities.
Medicaid action called ‘shell game’
State lawmakers on Wednesday used the first round of federal stimulus money intended for Medicaid to plug a shortfall in overall spending in the current year’s budget through a complicated series of maneuvers that critics say violates Congressional intent.
Florida Senate adopts $65.6B budget
House considering version that’s $549 million less as Legislature enters its home stretch
It’s a whirlwind in Tallahassee as the Florida Legislature moves into the home stretch, with little more than two weeks to adjournment on May 1.
State Senate OK’s $1 cigarette-tax increase
With a 39-0 vote, the state Senate overcomes the anti-tax mantra and passes a historic increase in the state’s cigarette tax.
The Florida Senate unanimously voted Thursday to raise the state cigarette tax $1 per pack in an historic vote on a bill that two years ago couldn’t even get a hearing.
Florida Senate votes to give Seminole Tribe more games
Gambling expansion would help fill state budget holes
The Florida Senate passed its Seminole casino gambling bill on a 27-11 vote, with conservative Republicans and a couple South Florida Democrats with big political ambitions voting against it.
Embry-Riddle space bill passes House
The Florida House gave overwhelming appproval late Thursday to a bill creating an institute that would coordinate space-transportation-related research and development and be led by Daytona-based Embry-Riddle.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: House members vote to reduce their own pay
The Florida House gave preliminary approval Thursday to taking a mandatory 5 percent pay cut to their $31,300 salary for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Senate panel rejects end to public pensioners’ double dipping
Unless something extraordinary were to happen, the effort to stop public employees from double dipping is dead in this year’s Legislature.
Crist announces $132 million in Recovery Act funding for Florida water projects
Funds to make low-interest loans to local governments for wastewater and stormwater construction projects
Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his efforts to reinvigorate Florida’s economy and protect Florida’s environment, Thursday announced the award of more than $132 million to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
For Senate race, Kendrick Meek is raising big money from out of state
Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek has received 44 percent of his campaign donations from outside of Florida.
At a recent campaign rally, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami branded his U.S. Senate bid a ”grassroots campaign,” boasting of more than 1,000 donors in Florida.
Tom Aderhold, Rich Reidy to seek House District 47 seat
Election day is still about a year and a half away, but candidates are lining up now to replace state Rep. Kevin Ambler.
Miami port tunnel springs back to life
In a reversal, the state will work with the initial construction group on a tunnel linking the Port of Miami with the MacArthur Causeway.
The $1 billion Port of Miami tunnel, left for dead just four months ago, jumped back on track Thursday when the Florida Department of Transportation surrendered to Miami-Dade’s demands and agreed to move ahead with the original construction deal.
FDOT recommends high, fixed bridge for Anna Maria Island in Manatee
A high-level, fixed bridge should replace the aging Anna Maria Island drawbridge, state transportation officials said Wednesday in a decision that was quickly panned by critics, who contend a taller bridge will be subject to higher winds that would endanger emergency vehicles and motorists, especially during a hurricane evacuation.
South Florida Timeshare Companies to Pay Over $190,000 in Consumer Restitution
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office has reached an agreement with two affiliated South Florida timeshare resale businesses over issues related to the companies’ advertising and marketing methods.
Hurricane predictions gain ground
Forecasters believe they can do even better in coming years
By steadily improving their forecasts and setting high expectations, hurricane scientists may be getting too good for their own good.
Texas Bill Aims to Reverse State High Court Ruling in Workers’ Comp Case
Texas lawmakers, unhappy with a recent state Supreme Court decision in a high profile workers’ compensation case, have passed out of committee a measure its sponsors say will overturn the Court’s ruling in Entergy v. Summers.
What recession? Funds flow for U.S. Senate races, with Florida figuring prominently
The recession shadowing the United States and draining Americans’ savings has hardly dented efforts by Senate candidates to raise cash for the 2010 elections, and Democrats appear ahead early in the game.
Old Water Pipes Becoming Hard to Ignore
It has been 2,000 years since the Romans built their aqueducts, and 200 years since Philadelphia began using cast-iron water mains.
Farmers Insurance to buy AIG’s 21st Century insurance unit
Merger will put Farmers in tie for 3rd place with Geico and Progressive
Allstate Corp. has a new rival in its rear-view mirror: Farmers Insurance on Thursday said it will buy American International Group Inc.’s 21st Century car insurance unit for $1.9 billion.
Assurant plans debut $150 milion catastrophe bond
U.S. specialty insurer Assurant is marketing a $150 million catastrophe bond, its first such transaction, investors said on Friday.
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