Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, March 13
Mar 13, 2009
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Case raises questions about travel insurance licensing, liability
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink on Thursday asked three travel agencies, including one based in Lake Worth, to stop selling trip insurance from Prime Travel Protection Services Inc.
National Hurricane Center forecasters to get help from team leader
The elite forecasters at the National Hurricane Center will have an extra set of eyes to help develop more accurate storm predictions this year: their new boss.
EDITORIAL: State policy, not State Farm’s
The Office of Insurance Regulation should not back down from its demand that State Farm not leave Florida hanging if the company leaves Florida.
Injured state workers cost Florida $100 million a year
Florida is spending $100 million a year to pay claims from thousands of injured state workers, and the amount go could go higher.
UF launches study to understand defective drywall
The University of Florida’s Rinker School of Building Construction is launching a preliminary study of problems caused by defective high-sulfur drywall in homes throughout Florida.
Economists to release new Florida revenue estimate
Preliminary estimates show Florida’s collections from taxes and other revenues are expected to remain in a dive.
Florida‘s budget deficit grows
Fear of Friday the 13th takes a new turn at the Capitol, when fresh economic forecasts will show Florida’s budget crater has deepened.
In about-face, TaxWatch suggests ways to tax services, cut exemptions
Senate leaders said Thursday that they will embark on a multiyear effort to revamp Florida’s tax structure – eliminating unfair sales tax exemptions this year, strengthening tax compliance and pursuing tax revenue lost over the Internet.
Campaign finance resolution passes after heated partisan feud
The discussion was supposed to be about campaign finance. Instead it became a nasty partisan exchange that included crude words and broadsides against President Obama.
Utilities possible prime tax targets in Lee County
New, or higher, fees may alleviate deficits
Look for taxes on phone calls, electricity and water as government officials try to cover deficits from plummeting property values.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Fasano tells agencies to prepare for more cuts
Sen. Mike Fasano, who chairs the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Committee, told state agencies who already lost 4 percent of their budget during January’s special session that more cuts may be coming.
Seminole casinos would lose card games in new deal
A House committee studying the Seminole gambling compact is drafting a new deal that would strip the tribe’s authority to operate card games – blackjack and baccarat – at its casinos, Chairman Rep. Bill Galvano said Thursday.
Water managers want details from U.S. Sugar on land deal bonuses
Gathering in the self-described sweetest town in the country failed to soothe sour feelings of South Florida water managers over the proposed $1.34 billion land deal between the state and U.S. Sugar Corp.
Chief of Medicaid fraud unit, three staffers suspended over use of alcohol at event
The chief of Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Medicaid fraud unit and three other staff members were suspended without pay this week for drinking alcohol at a state-run police academy and, in two cases, driving home in state-issued cars.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Panel questions Health Department’s deal with doctors
Florida’s Department of Health got the word on Thursday that Senate lawmakers in charge of the agency’s budget aren’t taking too kindly to stories that the agency is paying private physicians more than $400,000 a year to do work for the state.
Legislators: Dismantle Growth Agency
Backers say easing rules governing Florida’s expansion will help economy.
State legislators are pushing to dismantle the agency in charge of managing growth, arguing that it’s standing in the way of reviving Florida’s economy.
Florida pension fund deficit won’t affect benefits
A new report predicts Florida’s public employee pension fund will have an $8.7 billion deficit this year, but a spokesman for the panel that oversees state investments said Thursday that won’t affect retiree benefits.
Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that critics say would significantly weaken state nursing home oversight and dilute the rights of the elderly.
Big Tobacco seeks appeals-bond cap
A state senator worries that litigation in Florida could jeopardize Big Tobacco’s ability to pay hundreds of millions to the state each year.
Bracing for the possibility of big verdicts in nearly 9,000 lawsuits in Florida brought by sick smokers, Big Tobacco is backing legislation that sets a $100 million cap on the collective amount of bonds that would have to be posted to file appeals.
Florida House leader Ellyn Bogdanoff to fight higher cigarette tax
Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? – Click Here. Republican in charge of tax issues, has a quick answer to supporters of a proposed cigarette tax increase: No way.
Appeals court throws out part of $356,000 bad faith award to La. homeowners over Katrina damage
Jurors shouldn’t have awarded money to a south Louisiana couple for their allegation that an insurance company acted in bad faith when it denied their homeowner claim after Hurricane Katrina, a federal appeals court has ruled.
U.S. rulemaker gets mark-to-market ultimatum
Lawmakers told the top U.S. accounting rulemaker to deliver new guidance on mark-to-market accounting within three weeks, or face legislation changing the rule that has forced banks to write down billions of dollars in assets.
Conning report: General liability line rates likely to rise as profits drop
General liability insurance should see a small increase in premium rates by next year as profits start declining, according to a study by Hartford, Conn.-based Conning Research and Consulting.
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