Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, April 7

 

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Court upholds Allstate sales ban

Ruling spurs the insurer to post thousands of pages of documents on the Web

A state appellate court Friday freed Florida to ban Allstate from writing new policies in Florida.

OPINION: Allstate policies now in state’s hands

In the world of insurance regulation, this was a big, BIG deal.

A Florida appellate court last week upheld the state Office of Insurance Regulation’s decision to bar Allstate Insurance Co. and its Florida affiliates from doing any more business in the state until they answer a few questions.

How a get-tough policy lifted Allstate’s profits

For more than a decade, Allstate Insurance Co. kept a secret from its auto policyholders a national strategy to force customers to accept reduced cash payouts or face years in court.

EDITORIAL: Protecting consumers

State Senate right to rein in property insurers still ripping off homeowners

Everything’s taking a back seat in Tallahassee this year to the budget crisis, but the issue of affordable property insurance hasn’t gone away.

EDITORIAL: Florida, and Washington, have work to do to prepare state for hurricane season

ISSUE: Lawmakers grapple with more reforms.

“Run for the hills” would be appropriate advice, except there are few hills in Florida, and almost all are in the northern part of the state.

Storm could cost Fla. billions

A major storm hitting Florida could mean more than $35 billion in assessments levied on Floridians over a 30-year period.

OPINION: Shooting the breeze on those useless storm predictions

If there’s one thing I hate more than hurricane season, it’s pre-hurricane season and all the hot air that comes with it.

OPINION: A possible storm prevention technique?

Another hurricane season is approaching, and all we hear is bad news about rising insurance costs or being cut off from hurricane insurance.

SOUTHEAST: Paying the Piper

Years of escalating prices for homes, property taxes, insurance and consumer goods and services are taking a toll on Southeast Florida.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The insurance blues

Readers express a variety of opinions about insurance in their letters to FLORIDA TODAY.

Cover the Uninsured Week focuses on America’s health-care problems

The fear of not being able to get good health care was overwhelming for Gail Black.

Insurance is overlooked business need

Buying insurance is a critical part of being in business for a small company, but it’s often either overlooked or given short shrift.

Tensions are getting thicker, and skins thinner in the Capitol

The Capitol is cranky. From lobbyists to lawmakers to legislative aides, the people in navy blue suits and silk ties furiously checking their BlackBerrys in these marble halls are tired and on edge.

Halfway Done With 2008 Session

Florida lawmakers have passed the halfway mark in their 60-day session with most of their major work still before them. Where the major issues stand:

THE BUDGET | The House and Senate are $800 million apart on their budget bills, with the Senate at the high end with $65.9 billion.

Gov. Crist clings to his early budget plan

Florida’s poor, sick and elderly might not be the only ones who lose out in the state budget. Gov. Charlie Crist’s priorities are likely to take a hit, too.

Legislature takes up budget, immigration and guns this week

The rubber meets the road this week as both state legislative chambers approve their respective spending plans and the real negotiations begin.

House speaker strikes delicate balance on immigration policy

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, the son of immigrants and the chamber’s first Cuban-American presiding officer, is navigating a quagmire over immigration policy that could spill into his future job prospects.

Environment: Everglades restoration could halt if House plan passes

The House would save big money by shutting down Florida’s biggest environmental initiatives — an approach not embraced by the Senate.

Florida’s cyber-jobs growing quickly

The average tech worker earned $64,400 in 2006, or 70 percent more than the state’s average private-sector job. But Florida’s pool of qualified workers is smaller than the market for them.

Despite the unpleasant economy, Florida techies have reasons to cheer.

EDITORIAL: Florida wastes billions on competency restoration program

ISSUE: Legislators consider overhaul of mental health system.

Florida’s social service agency spends $250 million per year to house people deemed not competent to stand trial. Most of them are mentally ill, and would be better served in a community-based mental health program, and at a much lower cost.

27 Florida delegates chosen for Democratic National Convention

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, seven state legislators and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer were among 27 party leaders chosen Saturday to be delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Storm forecast might worsen, expert hints

Though Dr. Gray has been off the mark of late, peers say they listen when he talks.

For two years running, the forecast team at Colorado State University has botched its long-term outlook for the upcoming hurricane season. So should anybody pay attention in 2008?

Treasury Dept. Backs Federal Charters, But Expects ‘Difficult’ Debate Ahead

The Bush administration may have rocked the insurance world last week by including optional federal charters for insurance companies, agents and brokers in its proposed overhaul of financial services regulation, but getting its sweeping reform package through Congress will be “difficult,” the blueprint’s architect says.

Consumer Rep Wants Home Insurers To Collect Data On Race, Income

A consumer representative got a positive response from insurance regulators here when he urged them to create a model law requiring homeowners carriers to disclose data on the race, sex and income of those who try to buy coverage from them.

Insurance Groups Balk At Data Reporting Mandates On Climate Change Impact

Insurance industry trade groups balked at calls to require carriers to collect and disclose more information about how climate change might impact their operations, investments and fiscal stability during a meeting of state regulators.

USGS Creates Flood Tracking Map

The U.S. Geological Survey has developed an online map that tracks flood conditions.

Pinnacle Wins Partial Settlement over Katrina Damage to Mississppi Property

California-based law firm Irell & Manella reports it has won a partial summary judgment on behalf of national gaming operator Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., in an insurance coverage case arising out of Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana AG’s Suit Against Insurers Over Katrina Stays in U.S. Court

Policyholders may not be entitled to recover any money from a sweeping antitrust lawsuit that former Attorney General Charles Foti filed against some of the nation’s largest insurers after Hurricane Katrina, a plaintiffs lawyer said April 2.

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