Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, July 26
Jul 26, 2010
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Blog: Allstate subsidiaries set to defend proposed rate hikes
State regulators will grill Allstate Insurance Co.’s Florida subsidiaries Tuesday on their request for a 33 percent and 17 percent average statewide rate hike.
State Farm sheds 125,000 Florida homeowner policies
After 45 years with State Farm Insurance, Jack Miller of Golden Gate is one of thousands of homeowners getting the boot.
Column: Universal North America to consolidate U.S. headquarters in S.W. Florida
Sarasota County scored yet another nice chunk of business expansion last week. As business writer Doug Sword reported, insurer Universal North America plans to add about 80 jobs in the next year as it consolidates its U.S. headquarters in Southwest Florida.
Florida Builders: New federal lead safety rule will be costly
Local contractors say a controversial new federal safety rule will increase home-remodeling costs in Manatee County but by how much is a matter of debate.
Skip Hillman bounced from growing pot to running an overseas hook-up service to his latest money making venture, saving desperate homeowners from the perils of Chinese drywall.
Storm-chasing contractors: Do your homework on storm-chasing contractors
New roofs are a hot topic in some neighborhoods, as roving contractors are going door-to-door telling people they may not know it, but their home has storm damage and their insurance company will pick up the tab for the repairs.
Letter: Let’s see — less value to insure, higher insurance rate?
No one has ever regarded me as a math wizard, so I pose this question: Can someone explain to me why my insurer can justify rate a increase of 10 percent when my property value has suffered a 40 percent drop in value?
Cigarette makers lose appeal on 4,000 Florida suits
Altria Group Inc.’s Philip Morris USA unit and other U.S. cigarette makers lost an appeal affecting about 4,000 Florida smoker suits in federal court.
Reporting Delay Could Hinder Florida’s New Drug Law
Pharmacists, doctors will have 15 days to put patients’ information into database
Florida’s prescription drug monitoring program, set to kick off in December, is being touted by many as an important tool against an epidemic that last year killed close to 2,500 people – about seven a day – in the state.
Some Florida Insurers Stop Writing New Coverage For Kids
Ahead Of Requirement To Cover Kids With Medical Problems, Some Insurers Drop Out
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said several big insurers in his state will stop issuing new policies that cover children individually.
Legislature allows faith-based health care clinics to tap into $25 million in funding
Faith-based health care clinics have been added to the list of providers who are eligible for up to $25 million in federal money to treat the poor and uninsured.
Column: Legislature Sets Own Agenda on BP Oil Spill
Leaders of the Florida Legislature apparently meant it when they said they plan to take action on the BP oil spill, but not in a special session called by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Lawsuits take toll on voter ballot questions
Florida voters were supposed to get a crammed ballot this November that would ask them to weigh in on everything from school class sizes to federal health care reform and property taxes.
Party-backed candidates Meek and McCollum could lose to millionaires Greene and Scott
There is an excellent chance that on Aug. 24 Florida will have a very rich Democratic Senate nominee and a very rich Republican gubernatorial nominee opposed by their respective party establishments.
Democratic attorney general contest turns negative
Once the friendliest contest around, the Democratic primary race for attorney general is turning negative as the primary nears.
Two first-time candidates pitted in Democratic primary for U.S. House District 16
Two political newcomers are joining the chorus of “Throw the bums out!” as they face off for the chance to claim a South Florida Congressional district that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida House candidate feels heat over mom’s signature
Will Republican state House candidate David Maymon get booted off the Aug. 24 ballot because of his mother?
Editorial: New Everglades restoration deal helps Lake Okeechobee
It’s another ambitious land purchase that promises to aid the massive restoration of the Florida Everglades. This one, though, seems simpler and more doable.
Bid to add windstorm cover to National Flood Insurance Program remains up in the air
White House opposes expanding program that covers flooding
Legislation that would require the National Flood Insurance Program to offer windstorm as well as flood coverage is in limbo.
Government Accountability Office To Probe State Regulation Of Risk Retention Groups
A federal probe into whether state insurance regulators are overstepping their authority when it comes to risk retention groups is being hailed by a national self-insurance group.
State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said today he intends to hire a Michigan insurance executive to replace John Wortman as chief executive officer of the state-run Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
S&P Comments on Dodd-Frank Act’s Implications for Insurers
A comment from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services notes that the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act “seeks to expand regulation to address many aspects of the financial services sector.
Kansas Suspends Insurance Agent’s License Amid Federal Probe
Kansas regulators have suspended the license of a Wichita insurance agent in a rare emergency order spurred by a federal investigation over alleged fraud linked to the trust of an elderly woman.
UK Insurers Hit With Unprecedented Amount of More Fraudulent Claims
The UK’s insurers are detecting more fraudulent insurance claims than ever according to figures released by the Association of British Insurers
Marsh & McLennan Companies’ chairman, Stephen R. Hardis, will retire in May and be succeeded by Lord Ian Lang.
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