Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, June 26
Jun 26, 2009
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Special session on property insurance issues?
Legislature to consider request by Jacksonville lawmaker
Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, has asked House Speaker Larry Cretul to consider calling a special session to deal with property insurance issues following Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of a rate deregulation bill.
Surplus Lines, Reinsurance Streamlining Bills Introduced in Senate
Legislation aimed at streamlining and reducing barriers in state regulation of surplus lines insurance and reinsurance has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Charlie Crist hasn’t always lived up to his self-appointed title as the people’s governor, but he did so Thursday when he vetoed a bill that would have given giant property insurers free rein to gouge homeowners.
State Farm clients needn’t panic yet
When Gov. Charlie Crist rejected a bill that would have let national companies charge whatever they wish for property insurance in Florida, he said that it lacked enough consumer protections.
TaxWatch: Override Crist’s Veto
The Florida House and Senate should meet to overturn Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of the Insurance Consumer Choice Bill, the director of a government watchdog group said Thursday.
Editorial: State must act on insurance
Now that Charlie Crist has vetoed an attempt to lure State Farm and other big private companies back into insuring property against windstorms, Tallahassee cannot afford to stand still.
Editorial: Crist lets down property owners
Shortly before Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the Consumer Choice Bill on Wednesday, state Rep. Bill Proctor finally obtained a list of the 40 companies the Department of Insurance brags it has attracted to Florida in the last three years to build a market for windstorm coverage.
Statement From FPCA on Governor’s Veto of House Bill 1171
“The Florida Property and Casualty Association applauds Governor Crist’s veto of HB 1171 related to residential property insurance.”
Blog: Cretul calls Crist veto ‘a disappointment’
House Speaker Larry Cretul: “Gov. Crist’s veto of CS for House Bill 1171 is a disappointment. Florida has demonstrated that over-regulating the insurance industry can actually make things worse for consumers, not better.”
U.S. House Panel to Bring Homeowners Insurance Crisis Hearing to Florida
A subcommitee of the U.S. House of Representatives that is looking into trouble spots in the country’s homeowner insurance market is coming to Florida in July.
Hearing set to certify Chinese drywall class in South Florida subdivision
Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Gill S. Freeman has ordered a Sept. 14 hearing to determine if a class action can be certified for homeowners with Chinese drywall in the Keys Gate subdivision in Homestead.
Florida Association of Insurance Agents Donates $500,000 for Good Works Fund
The Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) has donated $500,000 to launch a new charitable project, the Good Works Fund. In addition to helping independent insurance agents via education grants and storm assistance, the Good Works Fund will provide financial assistance to deserving Florida citizens in need of a helping hand.
Governor Crist Announces Additional Recovery Act Funding for Weatherization Assistance
50 percent of funding now approved to help communities weatherize low-income homes, with more than 19,000 homes receiving assistance over the next three years
Governor Charlie Crist today announced that Florida has received another installment of funding for its Weatherization Assistance Program from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
$500,000 in fed funds set for public safety center, shelter upgrade
Sarasota County, already planning for a new public safety center, will receive $300,000 in federal funding for the facility as part of the House fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
U.S. Census: Florida Third in Nation Non-Employer Small Business Receipts
Miami-Dade Has Third-Highest Number of Plumbing, A/C Contractors
Judge blasts Florida’s prison system over secret negotiations
An ‘appalled’ state judge said Thursday that Florida’s prison system ‘blatantly violated the public trust’ by secretly negotiating with a new firm to provide for inmates’ mental health.
Crist signs measure to protect authors from “Libel Tourism”
House Bill 949, a measure relating to grounds for non-recognition of foreign defamation judgments, was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist, according to the office of House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton.
‘A big no-no’: Release of Sansom testimony illegal
Testimony from the grand jury that indicted state Rep. Ray Sansom, Bob Richburg and Jay Odom was released to three media outlets late last week by State Attorney Willie Meggs’ office.
Fla. Agency Shutters Lakeland Field Office
State budget cuts forced the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to close its Lakeland field office Wednesday, leaving agents without a Polk County office for the first time in nearly 25 years.
Florida may once again be able to ship citrus with canker
In the Florida citrus industry there are challenges and more challenges.
Private data stolen from state
A flash drive taken from a car contained information on 3,000 employees of businesses being audited.
The names, addresses and Social Security numbers of about 3,000 people employed by a handful of Florida businesses were on a password-protected flash drive stolen from the car of a Florida Department of Revenue employee in Georgia.
Florida governor candidates defend use of state planes
Travel records show how Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum use state planes to get easy access to their Central Florida homes.
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who is running for governor on a platform of fiscal discipline, has logged hundreds of flights on state planes, often including side trips for her and family members to their home near Tampa.
PCI Applauds Introduction of Repair Clause Bills
Legislation would help stem monopoly tide in auto parts market
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) expressed support for Thursday’s introduction of the Access to Repair Parts Act as an important step in eliminating anti-competitive behavior in the auto parts replacement market and in controlling repair and insurance costs for consumers.
Accounting board, with history of pressure from Congress, lobbying for independence
The Financial Accounting Standards Board which sets rules for corporate accounting has a rocky history of bumping up against lawmakers often acting at the behest of powerful business interests.
June 30 is the deadline to report taxes on offshore accounts
For anyone with undisclosed money in offshore bank accounts, June 30 represents a tough deadline, and it’s fast approaching.
Calling special session, Texas Gov. Perry wants quick action
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is summoning lawmakers back to the Texas Capitol on Wednesday for a special session to make sure key state agencies keep operating, take up highway bonds and consider public-private transportation partnerships.
Texas Court Allows Legal Expense Claim in Asbestos Case to Continue
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (FFIC) has been denied a motion in a Texas state court that would have established that the company could control whether or not it would pay legal expenses in an asbestos-related case, according to the law firm of Anderson Kill & Olick PC.
Michael Jackson Concert Promoter Could Lose $40 Million if Underinsured
Michael Jackson’s will is bound to be as bizarre as the rest of the singer’s turbulent life. But one thing is for sure, the arguments over his deeply flawed financial legacy will keep lawyers busy for years.
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