Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, Mar. 10
Mar 10, 2008
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South Floridians turn to alternative home insurance
With major insurers poised to shed more property insurance policies this year, Florida residents will be shopping for alternatives.
Impact-resistant windows tested against Category 3 winds
Deerfield Beach symposium promotes use of impact-resistant windows
To give an idea of what a Category 3 hurricane can do to your home, technicians fired a 9-pound, 2-by-4 piece of lumber from an air cannon simulating a 115-mph wind into a plain glass window on Friday.
Florida homeowners hardly fans of their insurers
You would think that Florida homeowners looking for a new insurance company might have some issues with their current carrier.
Do your homework on insurance carriers
Consumers should thoroughly research insurance carriers that aren’t regulated by the state such as surplus-lines insurers for individual homes and self-insurance trusts for groups of condos or homes.
State budget negotiations on hold until Monday
Negotiations over more than $500 million in cuts to the state’s nearly $70 billion budget for 2007-2008 were temporarily halted Friday, although a formal resolution is expected to come Monday.
No-shows plague Fla. tax reform committee
A state panel has lots of ideas for fixing Florida’s tax system, but is snared by its own rules and member no-shows.
The state commission that has the power to put amendments on property taxes and sales taxes in front of voters in November has 51 ideas waiting for a vote — and one problem: committee members who aren’t showing up.
With Florida government facing a $2.5-billion budget deficit next year, a major philosophical split has emerged among Republicans in Tallahassee.
Rubio backers urge run for Dade mayor
State House Speaker Marco Rubio refused to dismiss talk of competing against Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
As his popularity appears to plummet, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez could face a challenge from Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who’s not ruling out a run for mayor and whose poll numbers suggest he would be a strong candidate.
EDITORIAL: Florida’s debt traps
State needs help to curb predatory lenders
The fight to stomp out predatory lending has always been difficult — the minute lawmakers target one form of usury, another springs up to take its place.
Consensus nearing for mail-in primary in Florida
A consensus began to emerge Sunday that the best way to give Florida’s Democrats a voice in electing a candidate for president lies with the U.S. Postal Service.
Legislators may plug budget hole by raising state’s low cigarette tax
For six years, state legislators abruptly turned on their heels when they saw Brenda Olsen of the American Lung Association in the Capitol.
Unsure potential homebuyers turn to the rental market
When South Florida’s real-estate market was hot, Kellie and Madsen Marcellus were lucky enough to cash in.
EDITORIAL: Write-in scam shuts out voters
In the special election to replace state Rep. Frank Peterman, nearly 25,000 registered voters will have no say.
Florida Space Coast faces tough future when shuttle program ends
With space shuttle Endeavour ready for liftoff Tuesday, and only 11 more scheduled flights before the orbiter fleet retires, Brevard County officials are counting down to what looks like a dark and troubled future.
‘Independent Analysis’ Of CSX Rail Deal Questioned
The state Department of Transportation didn’t go far when it needed a consultant to confirm that its $491 million deal with CSX Transportation was good for taxpayers.
Legislation expanding the Liability Risk Retention Act to include property insurance exposures as a means of providing more affordable catastrophe coverage in coastal states will be introduced within the next month in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Sees Momentum For OFC, But Foes Cite Problems
Support for an optional federal charter for insurance carriers and producers is building on Capitol Hill and within the Bush administration, according to one of the bill’s House sponsors, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., who said the OFC concept is “gaining a lot of momentum.â€
House Insurance Items Agenda Outlined
The House Financial Services Committee will take a closer look at a number of insurance regulatory issues over the next several weeks, beginning with a hearing on municipal bond issues set for Wednesday, a committee staff member said.
Insurer Products, Services Help Avert Climate Change Catastrophe Losses
While the dispute rages over the reality of global warming and its effect on climate change, insurers have not been sitting on the sidelines waiting for definitive conclusions.
Fed to Make $200 Billion Available to Lenders
A surprisingly bleak employment report sent tremors through Washington and roiled the presidential campaign yesterday, infusing new urgency into the debate over how to reverse an accelerating economic slide and fueling a political contest over who to blame for it.
With $4 trillion of home equity wrapped up in the houses of America’s senior citizens, it’s no coincidence that the market for reverse-mortgage loans is finally taking off.
Bush Official Blasts House Mental Health Benefits Bill
A Bush administration official suggested today that a House-approved bill setting requirements for employer plans with mental health benefits could lead some businesses to drop the mental coverage entirely.