Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, August 27
Aug 27, 2010
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Overextension worries Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance
Policyholders grow faster than expected
The number of Florida homes and businesses insured by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is growing faster than expected, exposing taxpayers to greater risk.
Pasco insurance agent accused of forging names on hurricane mitigation forms
An insurance agent is accused of filling out hurricane mitigation forms to get lower premiums for his customers – then forging the signature of a licensed contractor at the bottom.
Reports of suspicious windshield replacements skyrocketing in Florida
Experts say salespeople pressure consumers
A growing number of pitchmen are turning up on Floridians’ doorsteps with a new offer: Replace your vehicle’s damaged windshield at no cost to you. All you need to provide is your auto insurance card.
Insurers say sinkholes impact Marion County market
Everyone agrees the state isn’t sinking, but the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation does want to know why a growing number of Floridians are having problems with sinkholes.
Governor Crist extends spill emergency for 7 Florida counties
Gov. Charlie Crist has extended his oil spill emergency declaration for another 60 days for seven Florida Panhandle counties.
Sarasota tower’s troubles stack up
Repairs likely to take longer, cost more and be denied by the insurer
Amid the discovery of still more concrete problems at Dolphin Tower, it appears that more money and more time will be needed to repair the damaged 15-story condo building.
Letter to the Editor: Florida lacks bodily injury coverage
I recently called the Department of Insurance to verify exactly what is required to purchase and register an automobile in the State of Florida. I knew the answer, but hoped updates had been made.
SB 360 growth management bill declared unconstitutional
A circuit judge on Thursday tossed out last year’s controversial growth management law that relaxes building rules in an effort to spur economic development.
McCollum witholding Scott endorsement
Attorney General Bill McCollum refused to endorse Republican Rick Scott for governor Thursday, expressing lingering doubts about “his integrity and his honesty
Incoming Speaker of the House tells GOP candidates not to over-promise
The incoming speaker of the Florida House told Republican candidates Thursday to campaign as conservatives but not to over-promise about cutting fraud, waste and mismanagement in state government.
Blog: Crist nightmare? Rubio agrees to seven debates
Soon after Charlie Crist agreed to participate in an Oct. 24 debate presented by CNN and the St. Petersburg Times, Marco Rubio upped the ante by agreeing to that debate – and six more.
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet welcomed retired Marine Lt. Gen. Bob Milligan back to state government Thursday as interim head of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Republican Rick Scott needs an urban renewal project if he hopes to get elected governor of Florida, judging by this week’s primary election results.
Blog: Chiles doesn’t rule out leaving governor’s race
Bud Chiles held a news conference in Tampa today to call for campaign finance reform, but also said he won’t rule out withdrawing from the governor’s race if his campaign doesn’t appear “viable.”
Opinion: Florida Republican donors won’t give another cent
Post-Primary Memorandum To: Republican Party of Florida From: Mostly Old, Nominally Egalitarian, Yearning for Better Access to Government Society Subject: Return On Investment
As Florida voting by mail grows in popularity, some worry about effect
Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark ignored criticism for opening only three early-voting sites in 2008 and 2010 and launched an aggressive campaign pushing the merits of mail-in ballots.
Blog: Change in media is altering the political game
The dramatic changes in the news media are having an effect on the way politics is practiced.
First Premium Insurance Group chosen to process BP fund applications
A Covington company has been hired to process applications for money from a $100 million fund set up by BP to help oil rig workers idled by a federal moratorium on new deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Homeowners Insurance an Issue in Texas Gubernatorial Campaign
Former Houston Mayor Bill White, a Democrat campaigning to replace Rick Perry as governor of Texas, says homeowners insurance rates in Texas are too high and should be subject to more regulation.
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Chief Favors Gradual Rate Hikes
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association recently filed for 5 percent increases in both its residential and commercial rates, effective Jan. 1, 2011.
Delaware River Port Authority’s unwritten policy on insurance fees takes hits from two sides
A long-standing, unwritten practice at the Delaware River Port Authority requiring insurance brokers to share their commissions with each other has come under fire from some DRPA board members.
Marsh Warns Against Reducing Government TRIA Role
Marsh is telling the Obama administration that cutting the federal terrorism risk insurance program would have a dire impact on the availability of terrorism insurance in the U.S.
NCOIL Invites State Leaders to a Summit on Financial Reform
With an eye towards broad state consensus, National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) President Rep. Robert Damron (KY) yesterday invited state leaders from across the country to attend an inaugural State Leader Summit: Working Session on Financial Modernization on Friday, November 19, in Austin, Texas. The 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. Summit will be held in conjunction with the November 18 through 21 NCOIL Annual Meeting.
$12M payout advised in salmonella case
Tainted peanut butter killed 9 people, sickened 700, spurring massive recall
A federal judge is recommending approval of a $12 million settlement for those sickened or killed in last year’s salmonella outbreak tied to a Virginia-based peanut processor.
GCCapitalIdeas.com Named to LexisNexis(R) Insurance Law Community’s “Top 50 Blogs” List
Guy Carpenter’s intellectual capital website, www.GCCapitalIdeas.com, has been selected as one of the LexisNexis Insurance Law Community’s Top 50 Insurance Blogs for 2009.