Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, January 3
Jan 3, 2011
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Florida Senate Issues Sinkhole Report
The Florida Senate issued its Interim Report 2011-104 on “Issues Relating to Sinkhole Insurance” today. The 46-page report includes a review of state laws and academic studies related to sinkholes along with an analysis of claims and costs and corroborating charts and tables.
Crist Asks Feds to Declare 35 Florida Counties Weather Disasters
Governor Charlie Crist sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday, arguing the cold weather has so devastated Florida’s agriculture that the USDA should declare more than half of the state’s 67 counties a disaster area.
FPL sued over roof painting program aimed at saving energy
Customers report leaking, deterioration problems after their roofs were painted to reflect sunlight
Florida Power & Light reimbursed contractors to paint thousands of homeowners’ asphalt shingle roofs white to reflect sunlight – against the advice of the federal government and major roofing manufacturers.
Paige St. John: More turn to riskier home insurers
And the options for new homeowner policies are shrinking
After a fifth year without a hurricane to generate storm claims, even more Floridians today buy their private home protection from an insurance carrier at financial risk — a third more than a year ago.
Florida Justice Association: Why should we trust insurance companies?
Earlier this month, the insurance industry spin machine started up again. If you believe them, every woe in our state – from traffic in South Florida to the cold weather in the Panhandle – is somehow the result of lawsuits. Some even call Florida a “judicial hellhole,” claiming that Florida can lower costs for consumers and create jobs simply by reducing lawsuits.
Editorial: Increase Home insurance Rates but Less Coverage Expected…Just Great
Home insurance premiums for Floridians are set to rise but the fear is that with this increase will come less coverage.
Florida officials worried that busy fire season lies ahead
Cool, dry conditions, recent freezes and a lasting drought have transformed Florida’s fire-prone scrubland into a powder keg, and state and local officials are increasingly concerned that an unusually busy fire season lies ahead.
Federal, state money for beach renourishment drying up in Palm Beach County
Federal and state money for rebuilding beaches is drying up in Palm Beach County, highlighting a national problem of finding new ways to keep oceanfront homes from falling into the sea.
Sinkhole takes bite out of Plant City family’s yard
All Ben Story can do now is wait.
Despite Florida law, Tampa Councilman pushing fee for vehicle crashes
Hundreds of motor vehicle crashes occur in the city every year, and the cost of cleaning up the mess typically is borne by the city, through its taxpayers.
Clearwater Police Adopt License Plate Screening Cameras
A Tampa Bay-area police department is the latest to buy into new technology that uses cameras to scan license plates and checks the numbers against a database of stolen cars and other vehicles used in crimes.
‘Stand Your Ground’ cases in Florida on the rise
A decade-old law that gives criminal immunity to some people who defend themselves with knives, fists, sticks or guns is rearing its head more frequently in Volusia County courtrooms.
Another arrest made in Collier County insurance fraud case
Collier deputies have arrested a 13th suspect in the case of an alleged insurance fraud ring in the county.
Scott’s transition team questions need for government to own hospitals
Florida’s government-owned hospitals will be in the political cross hairs after Tuesday’s inauguration of Rick Scott, once leader of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain.
In Florida, a slow start to early health-reform insurance perk
Insurance for those with pre-existing conditions comes with a lot of strings.
But five months into the program, takers have been few in the Sunshine State and elsewhere. So far, the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, as it is called, has enrolled a modest 8,000 people nationwide, 293 of them in Florida.
Inaugural Events Mark Dawning of Rick Scott Era
Governor-elect Rick Scott will roll into office on the heels of a series of inaugural events that will feature national news personalities, performance artists and high school bands from throughout Florida.
- The schedule for Rick Scott’s inauguration
- CEO about to become governor: Can Rick Scott run Florida like a business?
- Q&A with Florida Governor-elect Rick Scott
Scott picks woman to lead Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Wansley Walters was a headstrong kid, full of sass and ready for a fight.
Scott says he may withdraw some of Crist’s final appointments
Governor-elect Rick Scott may be a professed outsider, but he could keep intact one recent tradition: Pulling back the appointments of the previous governor.
Republican Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi today named former state Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Democrat from Green Acres, to a newly created post in her office focusing on prescription pill abuse.
CFO-Elect Atwater names Robert Kneip as Department of Financial Services chief of staff
Jeff Atwater will take his top assistant with him when the former Senate president is sworn in as Florida’s chief financial officer.
Blog: Jacksonville’s Herschel Vinyard to head Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Buzz is that incoming Gov. Rick Scott will announce Herschel Vinyard as his new Department of Environmental Protection secretary. The announcement could come today.
Haridopolos announces first immigration-reform hearing
Even though Governor-elect Rick Scott seems to have cooled dramatically on immigration reform since his GOP primary victory, another Republican with statewide ambitions – Senate President Mike Haridopolos – is still charging forward.
Senator Fasano withdraws from redistricting committee
State Senator Mike Fasano, a Republican from New Port Richey, today submitted his resignation from the Senate redistricting committee to Senate President Mike Haridopolos. Fasano, who said he plans to file ethics reform legislation this session, said he didn’t feel comfortable serving on the committee because he may run in 2012 for an office that might be redrawn in the process.
Rick Scott worries Florida’s pension fund is in even worse shape than we know
Days before taking office as Florida’s governor, Rick Scott said he’s worried that the state’s public pension fund, which posted a $16.7 billion shortfall last year, is in even worse shape than the public has been told.
Push to fix ethics laws goes nowhere in Tallahassee
Governor Charlie Crist is leaving behind a lot of good ambitions and unfinished business when he hands the office over to Republican Rick Scott this week.
Florida Citrus Commission Will Study Chinese Competitors’ Impact
Project sparked by researcher’s boast that the Asian giant will dominate the industry by 2015.
After so many world business leaders and economists focused on China during the past decade, the crouching dragon has now drawn attention of the Florida citrus industry.
Florida’s congressional delegation faces tough task in working together
Can the Florida members of Congress find a way to get along?
- Congressman-Elect West of Plantation defiant on debt limit
- Column: History Offers Marco Rubio Lessons, as Florida’s Rising Stars Fade Quickly
- New York Times: Florida Congressman Grayson Entered Congress Swinging, and Exits That Way
Federal Audit Rips Spending for Texas Hurricane Cleanup
A scathing audit by the federal Department of Homeland Security questions whether some $45 million in public money was properly spent to remove debris in the cleanup of Chambers County, one of the Southeast Texas counties most devastated by Hurricane Ike two years ago.
California Approves Homeowners Underinsurance Regulations
California’s Office of Administrative Law has approved regulations designed to combat underinsurance and may require insurance agents and brokers to complete additional training.
Connecticut wins $2 million in Liberty Mutual settlement
Connecticut will receive $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that Liberty Mutual engaged in an illegal bid-rigging scheme, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced Thursday.
Four insurers settle with Cuomo over New York workers comp policyholder fees
New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said four insurers, including Zurich Financial Services Group and ACE Ltd., have agreed to pay almost $120 million to settle claims they collected too much in workers compensation fees.
Ambulance Fees Increasing Across USA
When a Gig Harbor, Wash., Fire & Medic One ambulance speeds toward a hospital, medics are focused on saving lives, not money, says Medical Division Chief Paul Berlin.
Boards react to new disclosure rules
Disclosure is the often sought remedy in regulation. Rather than specify what a company is required to do, disclosure itself is often used as the regulatory mechanism.
Top 5 Things Affecting Excess & Surplus Market in 2011
It has been a challenging few years for those in the excess and surplus lines insurance market.
Drywall insurance coverage still possible
A recent court ruling could close the door on homeowners insurance coverage of corrosive imported drywall, but attorneys say other, more-likely recovery avenues remain open.