Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, May 10
May 10, 2010
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Blog: Insurance regulator pushes Gov. Crist to sign measure allowing certain rate hikes
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty wrote a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist today backing a sweeping measure that would allow certain property insurance rate hikes and lower costs for insurers.
Bill allowing insurance rate hikes awaiting Crist’s decision
A bill that could raise some insurance premiums for property owners and reduce the costs of processing claims for insurance companies is waiting for Gov. Charlie Crist’s signature or veto.
Brown & Brown among stocks hit hard in market drop
Read more: Brown & Brown among stocks hit hard in market drop – Orlando Business Journal: The stock of Brown & Brown Inc. plunged 49.5 percent in Thursday’s market drop before rebounding.
Congressman Tom Rooney: Flood insurance critical to Florida’s housing market recovery
Last month, many Floridians looking to buy homes ran into an unexpected obstacle – an inability to purchase flood insurance, which is required at most closings in our state.
Can your insurer financially survive any hurricanes?
Will Florida’s insurers be able to withstand this hurricane season, which forecasters have predicted to be gulp “active?”
Red Light Bill Raises Questions
A bill passed by the Legislature last week allowing the use of red-light cameras statewide raises more questions than it answers for Lakeland officials.
Florida is number one for staged accident complaints
Insurance companies reported they suspected fraud in 3,006 automobile insurance claims in Florida
Florida drew the most complaints from insurers about insurance fraud cases related to staged accidents last year, according to a report released Monday by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Medicare Advantage tweaks may bring benefits for Florida’s seniors
Millions of seniors have worried that federal health reform would eliminate Medicare Advantage, the popular plans that offer perks like gym memberships but cost the government more than standard Medicare.
Woman awarded $36 million malpractice verdict
A Deerfield Beach woman who was left partially paralyzed after a botched steroid injection has won a $36 million malpractice verdict.
WellCare’s investor wants disclosure
A New York-based investor is pushing to require WellCare Health Plans — a major contributor to Florida politicians and parties — to disclose more information about how it spends company money on political activities.
Column: Florida emerges as center of tobacco litigation universe
On April 26, a Fort Lauderdale jury found Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Liggett Group responsible for the cancer death of Margot Putney, a Florida woman who began smoking in about 1953 at the age of 15 and died in 1995. The verdict: $15 million.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Legal Team Named for Possible Suit in Oil Disaster
Florida officials established a legal team Monday to advise the state on recovering costs stemming from BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, a possible prelude to a federal lawsuit.
- Poll: Florida drilling support drops dramatically
- No election year games with drilling: Editorial
- Legislative leaders and oil drilling in Florida waters: Never say never.
- Is Gulf oil spill another nail in coffin of disappearing South Florida fishing industry?
- As oil spill grows in the Gulf, Floridians worry and wait
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Winstead Says Stim Money Being Spent Ahead of Schedule
Florida had spent more than $16 billion from the federal stimulus dollars by the end of March and is on track to spend at least $1 billion more by the end of the year, the state’s recovery point man said Monday.
Editorial: New rules on rulemaking deserve governor’s veto
The measure would restrict state agencies from adopting new regulations on their own, and instead require them to get legislative ratification for major changes.
Florida Supreme Court may rule on state funding for faith-based groups
A high-stakes First Amendment battle that could either halt state funding to all church-run social service programs or create an unprecedented flood of government-backed sectarian groups may soon come before the Florida Supreme Court.
Attorney General Bill McCollum and Public Counsel J.R. Kelly today announced that they have reached a settlement with Progress Energy Florida on behalf of Florida consumers which will freeze base rates for Progress customers through 2012.
Editorial: Solar deadline could force action in Tallahassee
Amendment may spur Tallahassee to act on renewables.
Weíve always felt Floridaís constitution is the wrong place to legislate.
Condo financing in Florida to get boost from Fannie Mae
Only about 40 of the 253 condominiums at Regent Park in downtown Hollywood are occupied by people who own them.
32,000 Duval Properties Owe $65 Million in Back Taxes
Jacksonville’s 2009 property taxes came due April 1, and a month later, the owners of some 32,000 properties still hadn’t paid.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Figlio Tapped as Crist General Counsel
Erik M. “Rick” Figlio was named general counsel to Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday.
Florida Democratic Senate candidates scuffle against each other and governor for recognition
Lifelong Republican Charlie Crist’s rebranding as a no-party candidate for U.S. Senate makes Democratic activist Allen Robbins nervous.
Republican congressional hopeful Allen West has called U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, a “coward” and said that if he gets elected he’ll tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to “give me that damn gavel.”
Candidate Rick Scott shakes up gubernatorial race
A once-unknown candidate is taking a big chunk out of front-runner Bill McCollum’s lead for the Republican nomination for governor.
Rick Scott unexpectedly jumped in the Republican governor’s race, quickly dropped $4.7 million of his own cash and bought enough advertising to get a bounce in the polls.
Miami to Lose Key Players in State Legislative Delegation
Miami-Dade’s legislative delegation, an experienced, powerful group that delivered state dollars to South Florida for local projects, will face heavy turnover — and possible loss of clout — this fall.
Former state Rep. Dick Kravitz quits Florida Senate race to make Duval tax collector run
He says there is more to it than Thrasher’s role.
After two years of planning a Florida Senate run, former state Rep. Dick Kravitz has opted to drop out and campaign for Duval County tax collector.
He may be a lame duck governor with no political party, but Charlie Crist has one big weapon in his arsenal: the veto pen. Expect him to use it.
Abortion debate could continue, even with Crist’s decision
Courts can still start a fight to push right back.
If he signs it, the bill would almost certainly be headed for the courts. If he vetoes it – as he is hinting he might – the Legislature could pass it again next year.
Editorial: Bill favors lobbyists over the public
So much for Republican leaders’ promises to streamline government.
Working waterfront property tax relief overdue
Florida voters may have thought they changed a portion of the state’s broken property taxation system back in 2008 by eliminating the “highest and best use” provision from working waterfronts.
Florida’s small-business owners dug deeper to fight recession
Florida’s small-business owners are more likely than those in the rest of the country to have taken extreme steps, such as a hiring freeze and not drawing a salary, to deal with the recession.
Editorial: Unfinished work better left for next governor, Legislature
With the plague of official corruption that has infected Florida in recent years, it’s disconcerting that a majority of state legislators couldn’t agree on a series of antidotes before their regular session ended last week.
Opinion: Trouble ahead for Florida banks
Despite muted optimism about a national economic recovery, Florida banks remain in a precarious position.
- Column: Paper trail behind bank failure, Crist veto
- First Federal Bank of Florida acquires Bank of Bonifay
US House aims to extend flood insurance program
U.S. Representative Barney Frank introduced legislation on Friday to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through September, which would give Congress more time to fix the troubled program.
State Farm gets 9.9 percent Louisiana rate hike
State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., Louisiana’s largest residential insurer, won an average 9.9 percent rate increase Thursday for homeowners’ coverage in Louisiana.
Drywall settlement talks begin
Manufacturer talks with builders; homeowners’ attorney cries foul
One manufacturer that has lost lawsuits over Chinese drywall is discussing settling with several builders.
Lawyers for drywall firm pick 2 Louisiana case for next trial
Part of ongoing effort to provide guidance for repairs of Chinese wallboard
Attorneys for Chinese drywall manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. have chosen two Louisiana cases to be the subject of the next federal bellwether trial scheduled for late June.
New York Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Coastal Insurance Issues
New York lawmakers hold a hearing today with insurance agents and industry leaders over the difficulties facing the coastal homeowners insurance market.
Mississippi Court Gets Insurer USAA Appeal of Katrina Damage Award
A dispute between an insurance company and a retired Navy admiral over coverage of damages from Hurricane Katrina has made its way to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Price Gouging Law Enacted; Emergency Loans Available in Louisiana
The federal Small Business Administration recently granted Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s request to issue an economic injury disaster declaration for Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes, and Jindal has asked that for 13 additional parishes be added to the list.
U.S. insurers in choppy waters as hurricane season looms
U.S. property and casualty insurers, reeling from a rough start to the year, have little room for price hikes as they brace for a potentially strong hurricane season.
Insurer Liberty plans $100 million public offering for subsidiary
Insurer Liberty Mutual Group said Monday its subsidiary Liberty Mutual Agency Corp. plans to raise $100 million with an initial public offering.
Insurers foot $5 billion risk with soccer World Cup
Soccer teams and fans aren’t the only ones girding themselves for the start of the World Cup in South Africa. The world’s insurance companies have sold policies covering $5 billion worth of risks linked to the games.
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