Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, August 21

Aug 21, 2009

 

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Regulators Tangle With Think Tank Over Fla. Market Picture  

A conservative think tank report challenging regulators’ picture of the Florida home insurance market is out of focus, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

 

Competive Enterprise Institute:  Principles for Property Mitigation Discounts

Encouraging property mitigation against catastrophes like floods and storms has become a major area of consensus for people on all sides of the debate over coastal insurance in hurricane-prone areas.

 

Regulators checking Taylor, Bean escrow accounts for timely homeowners insurance payments

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation is scouring the financial books of now-defunct Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Company as part of a state “examination” of the former lending giant.

 

State Farm departure spurs shopping for property insurance; here’s how

State Farm, Florida’s largest private property insurer, plans to leave the state. Major insurers, including Nationwide, Allstate and State Farm, have dropped more than 350,000 policies in recent years. And state regulators have licensed more than two dozen new insurers in just the past three years.

 

Need property insurer? Get free referral help

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is encouraging its policyholders, as well as anyone having difficulty finding property insurance, to shop wisely for the best policy to meet their needs. 

 

Hundreds of drivers in Florida file lawsuits against cities using red light traffic cameras

Lawyers are racing to put a stop to red light traffic cameras.

 

Economic problems stifle state growth

For decades, Florida’s population has shot up like the mercury on sultry summer days.

 

Inquiry Prompted Admission by WellCare

A day after saying it had voluntarily disclosed illegal campaign contributions in Florida, troubled health insurer WellCare revealed Thursday it came forward following an inquiry from the state elections commission on a separate matter.

 

15 Years Later, Tobacco Lawsuits Still Winding Through Florida Courts

Fifteen years after a Miami Beach pediatrician suffering lung disease took on the tobacco giants, thousands of smokers’ lawsuits are working their way through Florida courts and early results encourage both sides.

 

Blog:  Gov. Charlie Crist today asked former state Sen. and House Speaker Dan Webster to submit an application for Mel Martinez’s soon-to-be-vacated U.S. Senate seat.

The governor will interview Sen. Webster on Friday in Orlando, time to be determined.

 

National Review profiles U.S. Senate candidate Rubio in cover story

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio is far behind Gov. Charlie Crist in name recognition and fund raising for their GOP U.S. Senate race, but he’s just attained the Republican political equivalent of the holy grail — a flattering cover story in The National Review.

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State Rep. Stargel Raises Money Without Even Trying

State Rep. Kelli Stargel began her re-election campaign for a second two-year term in House District 64 on Feb. 4, but she has not yet begun to seek contributions.

 

Senate campaign spurs calls to Flagler emergency services

Flagler County’s emergency operations center was flooded Thursday — with phone calls, that is.

 

Louisiana Citizens Can Post $95 Billion Appeal Bond, Says Donelon 

Louisiana’s top insurance regulator said Citizen’s Property Insurance Corp. will be able to post a $95 million bond so the state-backed carrier can appeal a crushing $92.8 million judgment.

 

Cincinnati Insurance Companies Join PCI 

Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) said the Cincinnati Insurance Companies property casualty group has joined the organization.

 

States Give ‘Thumbs Up’ to Fingerprinting Insurance Producers

Don’t be alarmed, but there are convicted criminals roaming around the country acting as insurance producers. They could be drunk drivers, robbers, forgers, possibly even rapists.

 

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