Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, Feb. 4
Feb 4, 2008
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Legislators set to ask insurers why savings weren’t passed on to homeowners
Hearings will address why savings weren’t passed on to homeowners
Have insurers inflated homeowner policy prices in Florida to pad profits or are their rates justified by the state’s track record of costly hurricanes?
For supplemental information to this article, click “Some companies’ rates rose, some declined”
Insurer’s top exec ready to speak up
American Strategic’s John Auer will appear before a Senate panel.
The lineup is set. Allstate and Hartford take the stand Monday; Nationwide, Florida Farm Bureau and American Strategic Insurance appear Tuesday.
Allstate policy cuts get scrutiny
When Allstate insurance companies proposed shedding 95,000 high-risk homeowner policies in Florida in 2005, state regulators understood – even if customers didn’t.
Florida Home Mitigation Council to Hold First Meeting
The first meeting of the legislatively created My Safe Florida Home Advisory Council is scheduled to take place in Tallahassee today.
EDITORIAL: Our view: Ultimate fighting
State’s court action against Allstate shows how tough battle would be in major insurer lawsuit
That’s what insurance companies have at their disposal in fights with Florida regulators over the rip-off rates they’re charging to homeowners for hurricane protection.
Crist’s goals, styles differ from House budget chair
Gov. Charlie Crist drew headlines as a big-time power broker after smartly betting on a couple of long shots — John McCain and Amendment 1 — that paid off Tuesday.
Haridopolos passes on run for Congress
State Sen. Mike Haridopolos of Indialantic has decided not to run for Congress and instead will endorse fellow Republican state Sen. Bill Posey of Rockledge.
State senator makes his bid for US Congress official
Standing in front of the school from which he graduated in the 1960s when it was still Cocoa High, surrounded by about 250 supporters, friends, politicians and family members, state Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, officially announced his candidacy Saturday for U.S. Congress.
Court challenge could cost Floridians who change homes
Homeowners who plan to move soon and expect to save money by taking their old tax breaks with them face uncertainty if there’s a court challenge to the tax relief plan voters approved Tuesday.
Property tax cuts unlikely to lift housing market soon
Karen Azari wasted no time after Florida voters overwhelmingly approved the property-tax amendment last week.
Some property owners want larger assessments due to portability
With homeowners allowed to take their tax breaks with them when they move, Broward County’s property appraiser is getting some unusual inquiries from people who want to raise, not lower, their property values.
Crist seeks flexibility with merit raise plan
Gov. Charlie Crist, who has confounded the conservative Republican establishment by doing things like going ‘green’ on global warming and speeding restoration of voting rights for ex-convicts, has brought forth a budget that once again defies GOP orthodoxy.
Crist Heads Out to Help McCain
Gov. Charlie Crist took at least five days off of work in January, and parts of many more, to campaign for passage of Amendment 1, the property tax cut plan that voters approved last week.
Senator helps sheriff see light, open shutter case
The law finally caught up with Ronald Dale Paron Jr., the owner of the now-defunct Storm Systems Inc.
Chambers to push tax, insurance issues
Business leaders from Brevard and Volusia counties Friday outlined their legislative agenda that includes constitutional amendment reform, relief from business property taxes and more affordable commercial property insurance.
WellCare Officials Leaving With Millions In Stock Options
The three top executives leaving WellCare Health Plans will walk away from the company with millions of dollars in stock options and restricted stock, as long as they agree not to disparage the company and agree to cooperate with government investigations into its operations.
Web site aids insurance seekers
Everybody talks about Florida’s tight property insurance market.
Some lost confidence in the local investment pool. Some pointed fingers, and a few rose to the occasion.
It’s hard to think of the run on the state’s local government investment pool without thinking of the Bailey Building and Loan.
DCF reviews background-check policy after arrest
Agency press secretary out on bail on charges of child pornography
The Department of Children & Families is reviewing its policies on background checks for prospective employees after an agency press secretary was charged with child pornography, DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth said.
Lawsuits against Department of Children & Families cost state $2.26 million
Lawsuits accusing the Department of Children & Families of mishandling reports that a foster parent was molesting young girls will end up costing the state almost $2.26 million.
Crippled by global market rates and the unavailability of that backup insurance, insurers tap into reinsurance in the event of an extremely catastrophic event.
He Cant Stop Looking Over His Shoulder
When Martin J. Sullivan, now 53, took over the worlds largest insurer, the American International Group, three years ago, the company was the target of multiple criminal and civil investigations and its books were in such disarray that its auditors refused to endorse them.
Maryland Bill Targets Loans to Pay Premiums
Maryland’s insurance commissioner and several lawmakers unveiled legislation yesterday to change the rules of the state-operated automobile insurance fund, saying they are outdated and allow lenders to prey on low-income residents.
Insurer Fined $173,000: State Regulators Find Violations By 5 Sentry Companies
Sentry Insurance has paid a $173,000 fine to the state because of problems ranging from overcharging customers to improperly dropping policyholders here, the Connecticut Insurance Department said Thursday.
Insurers Under Fire For Using Credit Data: Bill Would Prevent Scores From Affecting Rates
Last summer, Scott Campbell couldn’t figure out why his homeowners insurance premium shot from about $650 a year to more than $1,000, even though his house was in good shape and he’d never filed a claim.
Most homeowners’ policies cover afterlife
A good insurance policy will protect you from cradle to grave — and then some.
A little-known part of most homeowners’ policies is that they cover headstones, grave markers, monuments and urns.
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