Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, April 21

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Several insurance bills remain in play

Headed into the final two weeks of the legislative session, several property insurance bills winding through the state House and Senate are like the hurricanes they’re preparing for.

 

Senator pushing bill that gets tough on insurers

Some Florida lawmakers cast property-insurance companies as the villain. Others portray them as the hope.

 

State Senate insurance bill would help policyholders

The Florida Senate has shown leadership and vision in crafting consumer-focused property insurance legislation.

 

Senate passes homeowner’s insurance bill tougher on companies

The Florida Senate approved a sweeping property insurance bill Wednesday touted as a ‘homeowners’ bill of rights.’

 

Editorial:  Legislate in spite of insurance industry threats

The insurance industry angrily predicts that a package of consumer-friendly reforms approved by the Senate last week will only cause disaster in the state’s already-troubled property insurance market.

 

Allstate records raise yet more questions

At first glance, Allstate’s release of documents it has zealously guarded for more than a decade as ”trade secrets” could be seen as an orchestrated move to keep Florida regulators at bay and let the company keep writing new policies.

 

Adjusters provide pay or pressure

After a pipe burst in their laundry room and flooded their house west of Boca Raton last December, Tom and Carolyn Palmiotto were confident their insurance company would take care of renovations.

 

$4.7M insurance bill protects airport in disasters

Think your homeowner’s insurance is expensive? Orlando International Airport will pay more than $4.7 million this year for policies covering everything from terrorism to boiler accidents.

 

Insurance program passes, but blasted by Democrats

The state House early Saturday passed a health-insurance program that Republicans said would benefit Floridians by giving them choices on coverage but that Democrats blasted as offering only the illusion of coverage, with one calling it ‘non-insurance insurance.’ 

 

Civic association discusses flood insurance

Homeowners told to get policy soon

Parts of San Carlos Park are now considered flood risks and those residents will need flood insurance.

 

Newsmaker: Lynne McChristian

Recently joined: After 16 years with insurance and financial services company USAA, McChristian has joined the New York-based Insurance Information Institute as its first Florida representative.

 

Editorial: A state sales-tax break for hurricane supplies isn’t justified

Lawmakers did the right thing Thursday when they canceled the annual state ‘sales-tax holiday’ for hurricane supplies.

 

Budget tops legislative agenda as session nears end

With two weeks left in the legislative session, the pace quickens this week as budget negotiators hammer out differences and delegates wind up committee work and head to the floors.

 

Competition heats up for state building dollars

Lawmakers are under the microscope as universities fight for their share

A new $10 million nursing school for Florida State University? Sure. A $4 million allocation for the University of West Florida? OK. Another $8 million for Florida Gulf Coast University’s nursing building? That’s a problem.

 

Auditors: Bush overstepped on child health program

The Bush administration overreached last year when it limited states’ ability to extend health coverage to moderate-income children, government auditors said in a letter released Friday.  

 

Not-So-Free Ride

The trouble with negative externalities

Americans drive too much. This isn’t a political or moral argument; it’s an economic one. How so?

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