Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, January 30
Jan 30, 2009
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Amid criminal probe, Florida House speaker quits — for now
Rep. Ray Sansom temporarily stepped down as leader of the Florida House of Representatives Friday afternoon, less than a day after fellow Republicans said his legal troubles have become too much of a distraction for the Legislature to handle.
State Farm must submit policyholder information to state
In order to drop its 1.2 million policies covering homes and boats, State Farm Florida Insurance must submit policyholder information to state insurance regulators.
Crist: Florida ‘better off’ without State Farm
State Farm said Tuesday that it has had enough of hurricane-prone Florida and intends to drop all of its property-insurance customers during the next 2 ½ years, forcing about 1.2 million policyholders to find new coverage.
State Farm Decision Is Controversial
Local State Farm customers are fuming over the recent news the insurance company would eliminate its homeowner coverage in Florida.
EDITORIAL: State Farm looks to leave — and to stay
OUR OPINION: Don’t allow companies to cherry-pick lucrative policies
Ever since Hurricane Andrew battered South Florida, property-insurance companies have demanded more from customers in Florida while giving less in return.
State Farm to Sell Renters Insurance in Mississippi, But Not Homeowners
State Farm says it will resume selling renters insurance in parts of Mississippi away from the Gulf Coast.
State Farm’s withdrawal from Florida’s property insurance market hasn’t changed its Alabama coastal coverage.
WILLIAM STANDER: Insurance won’t be your only post-crash bill
Hold on to your wallet. On Wednesday, the Tallahassee City Commission voted in favor of Ordinance No. 09-0-05 to charge motor-vehicle accident victims money for the privilege of being rescued by the Fire Department. They call it a user fee. We call it an accident tax.
City of Homestead to begin charging insurers for car accidents
Homestead’s moratorium on some residential development will continue until August and the city will start charging insurance companies a new car-accident fee.
Homestead extended its year-long moratorium on residential development Monday, halting higher density projects not already in the pipeline for another six months.
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney: My vote against SCHIP expansion is anything but anti-children
I am writing in response to your Jan. 27 editorial, What if teenagers wrote a letter to Rep. Tom Rooney, regarding my vote against the expansion of the State Childrens Health Insurance Program.
Justices OK Fla. redistricting amendments for 2010
Two proposals designed to prevent political favoritism in redistricting, a practice known as gerrymandering, can go on the 2010 ballot if sponsors collect enough signatures, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Stimulus Formula Discounts Florida, GOP Says
Florida Republicans from the Tampa Bay area and elsewhere are questioning whether the state would get its fair share of the $819 billion stimulus package the House passed Wednesday.
US seeks $2.5m from Fla. over driver info sale
The federal government is suing Florida for $2.5 million for the state’s past sales of personal information from motor vehicle records.
Panel interviewing 8 Fla. Supreme Court applicants
A state panel is set to interview eight applicants for a fourth Florida Supreme Court vacancy in less than a year.
As sales continue and complaints mount, gas vouchers are questioned
Seven months after the Florida Attorney General’s Office posted a notice on its Web site that it was reviewing allegations of “unfair business practices” in a gas redemption program, the agency is finally going to sit down with the company.
Uncertain times, wild card Crist keep Senate seat cold
Maybe Mel Martinez’s Senate seat is radioactive. How else do you explain why so many top-tier candidates — Jeb Bush, Alex Sink, Bill McCollum — are taking a pass on the extraordinary opportunity of an open U.S. Senate seat?
Greer, Crist Try To Bring Moderate Tone To National Party
Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist have tried to bring a more moderate tone to the Florida Republican Party, and they’ve encountered some criticism from conservatives along the way.
State Regulators Deny Life Insurers’ Bid for Looser Capital Requirements
State insurance regulators voted against a proposal to loosen capital requirements for the battered life insurance industry, shooting down hopes for up to $30 billion in relief.
ACLI Reacts To NAIC Vote On Capital And Surplus Proposal
“The American Council of Life Insurers is disappointed with the failure of the NAIC to provide uniform guidance to the states on how to respond to rapidly changing and volatile economic conditions.
Two TARP Panelists Call For Optional Insurance Charter
Two members of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Oversight Panel today recommended in a minority report that Congress create an optional federal charter for insurers.
National Auto Fraud, Theft Prevention System Set to Go Live
The nation will soon have a new online computer system to help protect states and consumers from automobile fraud and to provide law enforcement with new tools to investigate fraud, theft, and other crimes involving vehicles.
Mississippi Windpool keeps on growing
Policyholder Bill of Rights may be expanded
The number of Mississippians receiving coverage from the the state-funded insurer of last resort continues to grow monthly.
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