Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, June 6
Jun 6, 2008
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Democrats Bash McCain’s Catastrophe Fund Opposition
The Barack Obama campaign and Florida Democrats on Thursday attacked Sen. John McCain’s opposition to a national insurance catastrophic fund.
COLUMN: Competition may fix Florida’s storm insurance market
One way or another, everything the Florida Legislature has done on property insurance these last few sessions has revolved around the question of ‘How do we keep Citizens afloat until market conditions improve?’
Hernando storm drill reveals computer problems
With powerful Category 3 Hurricane Herb barrelling down on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday afternoon, Hernando County’s emergency managers were in deep trouble.
National Guard: Ready for the storm
A year ago, state and federal officials worried about whether the war-stressed Florida National Guard was ready to handle the aftermath of a major hurricane at home.
Lt. Gov. Kottkamp visits Marco with message: It’s not all bad news
Florida’s Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp speaks to a group of statewide city leaders who were attending the annual Public Risk Management Educational Conference on Marco Island.
Five ideas to make the aging agency as relevant today as it was in 1953
Can an agency created during the Eisenhower administration serve the needs of small businesses in the 21st century?
Medical supply companies protest rule changes
Companies that sell medical equipment in South Florida on Wednesday protested a controversial federal program that changes how much Medicare patients pay for the equipment and which companies can supply it.
DUELING COLUMNISTS: Florida’s new insurance plan works for some
Health care coverage costs a fortune in Florida, and one of the reasons is that the Legislature has gotten into the business of practicing medicine.
DEULING COLUMNISTS: Floridians deserve better when it comes to health plans
Caveat emptor, Floridians! Once again, the master of public flourish and photo-ops, Gov. Charlie Crist, gets an A for effort.
Consider insurance options when renting a car
Rental car companies offer many insurance options to add to the rental agreement.
McCain defends position on $2 billion Fla. plan
Republican John McCain faced tough questions Thursday about why he opposed a measure to restore the Everglades that had broad support from Florida officials, including Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and GOP Sen. Mel Martinez.
“It used to be five or six battleground districts in play each election cycle. I’m not sure you can say it’s only five or six now. There could be 20 or 25. A lot of places are going to be in play,†says Steve Schale, political director for House Victory, the arm of the Florida Democratic Party dedicated to electing Democrats to the Florida House of Representatives.
Democrat enters race for state representative
A Democratic challenger has entered the race for the seat Rep. Stan Mayfield is vacating because of term limits.
Florida Rep. Thad Altman is running for state Senate
State Rep. Thad Altman, R-Viera, said Thursday that he will give up his re-election campaign and instead will run for the state Senate.
Governor Issues Order Regarding Special Election
Governor Charlie Crist today, Friday, June 6, 2008, issued an Executive Order regarding a special election to be held in Senate District 24 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Senator Bill Posey.
Crist quiet on global-warming bill
When the going got tough on a new global-warming bill on Washington’s Capitol Hill, self-fashioned global-warming fighter Charlie Crist got going to Atlanta, to Sedona, Ariz., to New York and to Fort Lauderdale instead for events that were more about hobnobbing and politics than policy.
Florida congressional leaders are blasting a plan to restrict water flows in the sensitive Apalachicola Bay, while saying the state shouldn’t be punished for runaway growth upstream in Georgia.
FPL asks state to keep audit of green energy program secret
For months, the state has wanted to know how FPL has spent about $10 million it collected from customers to develop alternative energy sources.
Last week, Florida’s Public Service Commission released its audit of Florida Power & Light Co.’s Sunshine Energy Program after it challenged whether the energy giant has made good on the program’s promises.
Eight companies bidding to lease Alligator Alley
Eight bidders will compete for the right to control Alligator Alley for the next 50 to 75 years.
Momentum Building In D.C. For Federal Charter
Momentum is apparently building for both life and property-casualty insurers to have an option to operate under a federal charter within the next two years.
Flood Bill Moving To Conference Committee
The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee plans to ask the Speaker of the House to begin the process of ironing out differences in the flood bill legislation passed by the two Houses of Congress.
Insurer Must Pay New Orleans Grocer $21M for Katrina Damage
An insurance company unreasonably failed to pay for wind and other damage from Hurricane Katrina and must pay more than $21 million to the owner of a New Orleans grocery chain, a federal jury has found.
Vermont Governor Signs Captive Insurance Law Changes
Governor Jim Douglas has signed into law a bill making changes to Vermont’s banking and insurance laws, including provisions for streamlining and growing the state’s captive insurance industry.
Massachusetts: Insurance commissioner sued
One of the state’s largest auto insurance companies and the insurance agent trade association yesterday filed a lawsuit against Nonnie S. Burnes, the insurance commissioner, saying that new rules she put in place last month give newcomers to the Massachusetts auto market an unfair advantage.
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