Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, March 23
Mar 23, 2009
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Budget Squeeze May Axe All Florida Insurance Fraud Prosecutors
Anti-fraud groups are slamming a budget-cutting scenario put out by Florida Department of Financial Services that would eliminate all seven of the state’s insurance fraud prosecutors.
McCarty backs trade group on rate criteria
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty threw support behind efforts to stop insurance companies from using credit scores in setting rates for their customers.
State Farm policyholders find few options to switch carriers
Most South Florida homeowners are staying with State Farm for now, because they’re finding higher prices or less coverage as they shop around.
State Farm customers were expected to make a mad dash for other property insurers, but it’s been more like a crawl.
Florida Department of Health report finds gas from drywall
The results of chemical tests of Chinese drywall blamed for corrosion and possible health problems confirms that the product emits gases that cause foul odors and also fosters corrosive reactions in a home’s air-conditioning system.
Tampa insurance adjuster gets jail sentence in Hernando sinkhole case
A Tampa insurance adjuster convicted by a jury in February for solicitation to commit insurance fraud and forging a check related to a sinkhole claim received 120 days in jail Thursday.
People’s Trust Insurance draws state scrutiny
A new insurer cut corners to provide lower premiums for homeowners insurance, but regulators say that’s not acceptable.
Ken Eastment, a homeowner in South Miami-Dade, checked out homeowners insurance rates with People’s Trust Insurance, which promised as much as 70 percent savings compared with what other Florida insurers were charging.
EDITORIAL: The one-two punch on workers’ comp reforms
Florida employers have benefited enormously since the sweeping overhaul provided by the Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 2003, enjoying rate decreases of 60 percent, less litigation, less fraud, better access to insurers and a slowing of increases in the cost of medical care — a welcome change from when Florida had one of the worst workers’ compensation systems in the country.
NAIFA Past President: Citizens could become Florida’s biggest albatross
In the March 14 Press Journal, Michael Lunney asked if I could explain why the parent companies of Nationwide and Allstate are awash in profits but the Florida subsidiaries are asking for rate increases.
Work on Southwest Florida storm route is delayed
West Charlotte County residents expecting the start of construction on a new hurricane evacuation route will have to wait until at least early next year.
Punta Gorda to take role in preparing for climate change
When planning for climate change and sea level rise, cities and counties across Florida will soon be able to look to Punta Gorda as a guide.
Justice for injured Florida families likely to be delayed
For families hoping to receive compensation for government-inflicted wrongs, the legislative session is likely to end with more pain.
Eric Brody was just about to graduate high school in 1998 when a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy crashed into his car, leaving him paralyzed and severely brain damaged.
Secret Ballots Issue Giving Labor Pains
The Florida Legislature is grappling with a $7 billion budget deficit, an insurance crisis and burdensome tax increases.
Democrats, GOP spar over ending sales tax breaks as budget talks start
State lawmakers will start assembling a budget this week, but there appears to be little consensus about how to proceed, with Republicans and Democrats in the House refusing to blink in a debate over axing sales tax breaks and Gov. Charlie Crist reluctant to commit to either revenue increases or deep cuts.
Pay cuts still on table for State of Florida workers
One proposal suggests graduated system targeting higher-paid workers
Florida taxpayers could save about $300 million by imposing a 5 percent pay cut on state employees, but the idea landed with a resounding thud in the State Capitol last week.
GOP’s Hasner and Bogdanoff partisan and determined in Tallahassee
Against a waterfront backdrop, state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff looked into the camera and portrayed a mild-mannered moderate.
Seminole Tribe Left Out Negatives, Economist Says
The Seminole Tribe has exaggerated the economic benefits of a planned $3 billion expansion of its casino and convention sites, which will take workers and business away from existing Florida companies, a top state economist said Friday.
‘Stimulus czar’ lofty title for challenging state job
During a nearly 40-year career, Don Winstead has spent time as a teacher, a social worker and a top administrator in state and federal government. He might just need the lessons from all three of those jobs in the weeks and months to come.
South Florida‘s U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz reveals cancer battle
When Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz steps to the lectern at the Capitol on Monday to push for greater awareness of breast cancer risks in younger women, she’ll be speaking from experience.
Florida‘s U.S. Sen. Nelson says office computers were hacked
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says hackers breached the computer network in his Washington office, but didn’t access any classified information.
Florida AG McCollum Reaches Settlement Resolving Two Gas Price-Fixing Lawsuits
Attorney General Bill McCollum Monday announced that his office has reached a settlement with Fill-Ups Food Stores and its owner, Ryan Phillips, resolving two lawsuits which alleged gasoline price-fixing in Northwest Florida.
Trip insurance rises in downturn
It wasn’t that long ago that the threat of another terrorist attack caused some people to be wary of traveling. Now it’s the threat of losing a job.
Bill To Repeal Insurance Antitrust Exemption Scored By Trade Units
Newly proposed House legislation to end the insurance industry’s anti-trust exemption has been attacked by two insurer trade group who call it a “punitive bill hinging on a false premise.”
GAO Finds AIG ‘Not Guilty’ On Predatory Pricing Charge
There is no evidence American International Group is engaged in predatory pricing of its property-casualty business, the U.S. Government Accountability Office and Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner told Congress last week.
NAIC Will Revisit Insurer Credit Scoring
Regulators also approve controversial, but modified climate risk disclosure survey
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners moved forward on a pair of controversial issues last week, voting to revisit the use of consumer credit information to determine insurance rates, as well as approving a modified survey to assess climate risks facing carriers.
Paper: OFC Option Could Pose A Problem
In a paper that examines the concept of an optional federal insurance charter, an academic specializing in insurance and risk management has voiced a concern that once an insurer elects U.S. regulation they will find it cost prohibitive to go back to the state.
‘Mark to market’ rule no asset to banks’ health
Current accounting methods play a role in outsize losses, but a change would have unknown effects.
Given the degree to which the angst and anger about the economy is based on the public’s confusion about the financial world — just what is a “retention bonus,” anyway? — this might be the right moment to focus on something simple.
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