Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, April 4

 

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Appeals Court Says Fla. Can Suspend Allstate

A Florida appeals court lifted a stay today that had prevented the state’s Office of Insurance Regulation from suspending the license of Allstate Companies to write new business in the state.

Atwater Praises Court Decision on Allstate

Senator Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) today praised a decision by the First Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a stay requested by Allstate in a case where the insurance giant refused to comply with subpoenas and provide documents to state investigators.

Insurers ruffled, regulators pleased by judges’ rulings

Florida insurance regulators’ tough stance on insurance rates won a symbolic stamp of approval this week that has left the insurance industry reeling.

Legislators pass bills to reduce state’s insurance risk

A Florida House of Representatives committee passed a bill Thursday that would provide $250 million in loans to small property insurers to help expand the state’s insurance market and to reduce risk from public property insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

EDITORIAL: To Preserve Legacy, Bill Poe Should Address Charges Soon

Longtime Tampa residents know former Mayor Bill Poe as a smart leader and generous citizen.

Appeals court: Fla. can enforce anti-voter fraud law for now

Florida can temporarily enforce a law that disqualifies any voter registration where the Social Security or driver license number on the application can’t be matched with government databases, an appeals court ruled Thursday.

Battle over amending Florida Constitution rages on

Anyone who thought the long, nasty fight over amending Florida’s constitution had ended should think again.

Speaker pushes `Children’s Zone’

Miami-Dade legislators are once again pushing for the creation of a ‘Children’s Zone’ for one of the county’s most blighted communities.

The Liberty City that some Miami-Dade legislators envision would be a place where no child goes to school without eating breakfast and high school graduation rates rise as crime statistics drop.

Battle to control universities driving Pruitt’s overhaul bid

Florida lawmakers want voters to overhaul the state’s education system for the fourth time in less than a decade, promising that this go-around, they’ve got it right.

Vendors demonstrate after-storm products

Solar-paneled generators resembling props from a Buck Rogers movie, perfect for powering your refrigerator after a hurricane. Bathtub water bladders. Peel-and-stick roofing tarps.

Gov. Charlie Crist, Dan Marino back mandatory insurance for autism

Marino also teams up with Democrats to seek coverage

Broward Democrats waging an uphill battle against the powerful insurance industry to mandate coverage for autistic children have a new ally: Gov. Charlie Crist.

Market Update: How to get an insurance premium reduction

Seasonal residents heading back home has been a topic of discussion around Marco Island and Naples lately.

OPINION: State lawmakers rethink the gamble on storm insurance

So here we are midway through this year’s legislative session and Tallahassee is rethinking the gamble.

Hurricane experts warn owners of older homes to inspect and protect

Your home may be less hurricane-hardy than you think.

Seven-day hurricane warnings on the horizon

In the not-too distant future, residents should have a full week’s warning that a hurricane is approaching two days more than they have now thanks to razor-sharp storm predictions.

State budget breakdown

The current state budget in specific categories, along with what the proposed House and Senate budgets for the next year:

Council approves Florida state budget for House floor vote

House money managers Thursday approved a $65.1 billion state budget that Democrats called “ugly” but Republican leaders said is the best Florida taxpayers can afford in hard times.

Crucial votes near for state tax panel

The state citizen panel with the power to put constitutional amendments on the ballot nears the end of its once-every-20-years review of state tax policy today with a packed agenda that may put as many as nine more proposals before voters in November.

Guns-at-work bill set for final Florida Senate approval

After rejecting a series of proposed changes, the Senate is poised to give final approval next week to a bill allowing people with permits to carry guns to work regardless of their employers’ wishes.

U.S. Sen. Collins To Agents: I Oppose OFC

Advocates of continuing state regulation for the insurance industry have an ally in one of Maine’s senators, who told an agent’s group that she is against the idea of an optional federal insurance charter.

Senate drops plan to give homeowners a break in bankruptcy court

Object of bill was better loan terms

Republicans and business-friendly Democrats yesterday scuttled a plan to give people threatened with losing their homes more leverage in winning favorable loan terms from lenders in bankruptcy courts.

 

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