Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, Feb. 29
Feb 29, 2008
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House Speaker Rubio pushes aid for small insurers
He seeks $250-million to provide loans to smaller state companies.
Despite a looming budget crisis, Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio said Thursday he’d like to find $250-million to revive a program that offered low-interest loans of up to $25-million to insurance companies.
Hefty Citizens surcharges a threat
Homeowners covered by the state-run insurer could face multiple double-digit assessments on their policies if lawmakers don’t make certain changes in the legislative session that starts Tuesday.
Storm-risk models impact rates
Insuring hurricane losses in Florida is a high-risk business. Most of the insured property – worth nearly $2 trillion – is vulnerable to storm losses since Florida has more major hurricanes than any other place in the world.
Condos promised huge savings if they invest in self-insurance
For many fed-up Florida property owners, it would be a dream come true:
Fire your old insurer and get a new one that would cut premiums almost in half.
U.S. Rep Mahoney Urges NCOIL To Back Cat Bill
A Florida congressman urged state legislators today to persuade members of the U.S. Senate to support legislation that would allow states to pool their catastrophic risks.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Don’t wait for government to solve property insurance problem for you
Owners of policies from State Farm, Allstate Floridian and other home insurance carriers who won’t write any new homeowner policies in Florida should be made aware, by all possible means of communication, of what is happening and what options they might consider.
Three meetings next week focus on retaining rates
A local grassroots organization has scheduled a series of town-hall meetings throughout the Keys to discuss windstorm insurance premiums, and it’s a sure bet that Arline Wallace will be at the Marathon meeting front and center.
Insurance key issue for voters, poll finds
Holding down homeowners insurance rates ranks behind only property taxes as the most important issue among Florida voters, says a new poll from the insurance industry.
3 dropped from state legislator’s lawsuit
A judge in Charlotte County has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by state Rep. Paige V. Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, against the Florida Home Builders Association, lobbyist Richard Gentry and Kim Leebove, a secretary for Public Concepts, a Palm Beach political consulting firm.
2,600 home buyers in Broward apply for portability
More than 2,600 Broward County residents have applied to take their tax breaks with them to a new home in the month since voters approved a property tax relief proposal allowing the long-sought ability to transfer savings.
Experts blame Tallahassee for governments’ financial woes
After a panel of experts blasted the lack of leadership from Tallahassee and inequities in the tax system, a questioner in the audience wondered whether it was time to call a state convention and rewrite the Florida constitution.
State Rep. Seiler wants to be Lauderdale mayor
State Rep. Jack Seiler, a Wilton Manors Democrat, filed paperwork indicating his intention to run for mayor of Fort Lauderdale.
The race is on to replace outgoing Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, with one state legislator joining the race this week.
2 Candidates for House Seat Raise More Than the Job Pays
In the three-way Republican race to fill the vacancy in Florida House District 64, two of the three candidates have already collected far more campaign funds than the annual $31,932 salary for a state legislator.
Tensions flare in Florida over the governor’s rising national status.
For Charlie Crist, two competing events this weekend expose the tightrope he must walk between being governor of Florida and one of John McCain’s most visible new allies.
Florida’s Old Capitol gets a face-lift
The Old Capitol is getting a brighter face this week — and a new line of security.
Insurer AIG posts $5.3B loss in 4Q
American International Group Inc., the largest insurer in the U.S., lost more than $5 billion in the fourth quarter as bad credit ate into its investments, the company said Thursday.
Swiss Re 4Q drops 87 pct on write-downs
Swiss Reinsurance Co. reported an 87 percent drop in fourth-quarter net profit on Friday, blaming massive write-downs linked to bad loans.
Group: Flood Risk Study Taking Too Long
The Army Corps of Engineers is taking much too long to complete a study that could let victims of Hurricane Katrina know their risk of facing another devastating flood, an independent research group said Thursday.
S. Carolina Report Finds Flaws In NCCI Process
A study commissioned by the South Carolina Department of Insurance has found flaws in National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) methods of collecting and reporting data used to determining state workers’ compensation rates.
Liddy To Leave Allstate Chair This April
Allstate Chairman Edward M. Liddy will retire at the end of April and will be replaced by President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. Wilson, the company said.
The House ethics committee said Thursday it was beginning an investigation into the conduct of Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., who was indicted a week ago on conspiracy, extortion and other charges.
W. Va. Senate Restores 1% Insurance Policy Tax to Help Towns
The West Virginia Senate has agreed to help cities and towns with their police and firefighter pension funds, partly by reversing a recent tax break on consumer insurance costs.
New Orleans Mayor: No Room at the Inn for Displaced FEMA Trailer Residents
A plan to move people living in trailers to apartments and hotels because of concerns about formaldehyde fumes will not work and will lead to a “second great displacement” of New Orleans residents, the city’s mayor said.
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