Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, November 17
Nov 17, 2008
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Hartford Insurance Group announced it plans to acquire a Central Florida thrift and simultaneously applied for a thrift charter and federal aid under the government’s capital purchase program.
Insurers to buy savings banks for slice of bailout
The giant Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., reached out recently to buy Sanford-based Federal Trust Bank and its 11 Florida branches for about $10-million.
The State Board of Administration, which manages many of Florida’s public investments, has seen its assets plummet by $62-billion, a third of their value, in the last 13 months.
NCCI estimates that the full impact of Emma Murray will be an increase in overall Florida workers compensation system costs of 18.6%.
8.9 percent Fla. workers comp rate increase sought
Public Hearing scheduled for December 16
The National Council on Compensation Insurance filed it Friday, citing last month’s ruling. The justices struck down a cap on fees paid to lawyers for injured workers.
Associated Industries: Elected officials should strengthen hurricane insurance
In this final month of the 2008 hurricane season, Florida so far has been spared from any major hurricanes making landfall.
Insurance could be a concern at Beaches
Some residents are likely to have problems keeping their Citizens Property coverage.
Some Beaches-area residents could find it difficult to keep their Citizens Property Insurance because of the location and value of their homes.
St. Pete Beach hosts meeting on waterfront cities
Issues facing waterfront cities are being examined and discussed during a comprehensive four-day summit in St. Pete Beach.
CFO, AARP Team Up To Find Greater Protections For Senior Investors in Florida
Solutions discussed during second meeting of Sink’s Safeguard Our Seniors (SOS) Task Force
With seniors age 65 and older expected to soon represent 30 percent of Florida’s population coupled with an upward trend in complaints to her office about financial products such as annuities, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink challenged members of the Safeguard Our Seniors (SOS) Task Force to consider meaningful financial protections for senior investors.
People’s Trust Homeowners Insurance in Boca Raton offers discounted rates
Fed up with a property insurance bill that quadrupled after the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, retired Florida businessman Mike Gold decided to take a stab at the insurance trade.
Legislators head to Tallahassee for organizational session
Fresh off elections, lawmakers report for an organizational session Tuesday.
Southwest Florida returns a delegation of lawmakers gathering tenure, with addition of one new House member and a single-term House member moving up to the Senate.
Clinton supporters eye Alex Sink for 2010 governor’s election
Florida supporters of Hillary Clinton are revving up their grass-roots machine for the 2010 governor’s election in the hopes of getting Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink a promotion.
Meet in a special session to close state’s budget gap
Florida’s chief financial officer wants to spoil Christmas for Gov. Crist and the Legislature, but she’s right to be sounding like the Grinch.
Listen to the voters and serve: St. Petersburg Times Editorial by Florida Governor Charlie Crist
Editor’s note: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist spoke about the future of the Republican Party on Thursday night in Miami at the Republican Governors Association annual conference. Here are his prepared remarks, edited for length:
Treasure Coast Republicans Posey, Rooney ready to be fresh faces in Congress
The Treasure Coast’s new congressmen bring differing backgrounds with them to Washington, D.C.
Mental health crisis unit for children needs funding, or else
Susan Germann had tried everything to get treatment for her son when he was diagnosed six years ago with high-functioning autism and bipolar disorder.
Freshmen lawmakers angling to become speaker unintended consequence of term limits
House Republicans are planning a lavish golf retreat at the lush Panhandle WaterColor Inn and Resort near Destin this week after their new leaders are sworn in at the Capitol.
Florida Democrats’ chairwoman Thurman likely to face a challenge
Is state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman in danger of losing her post when the party holds state party elections next month?
Campaign money in Florida soars by stunning amounts
The 2008 election might go down as the year state political campaigns blossomed into big-money undertakings, with everyone from presidential candidates to statehouse hopefuls spending like never before.
Al Lawson takes charge of Senate Democrats
Senate Democrats meet later today to crown a new leader, a 60-year-old former Florida A&M University basketball coach who counts among his top achievements the 1994 fight to compensate victims of the Rosewood Massacre.
Florida Electors To Make It Official
On Dec. 15, 27 people will gather in the chambers of the Florida House in Tallahassee to cast their votes for the next president of the United States as part of the Electoral College process.
Lawsuit Claims Discrimination in Katrina Recovery
A group of civil rights attorneys filed a federal lawsuit claiming racial discrimination by the Louisiana Road Home program, an already troubled $10.3 billion effort designed to help Hurricane Katrina victims rebuild their storm-damaged homes.
States Seen Staging Big Battle Against U.S. Insurance Regulation
Any effort to federalize insurance regulation will be met with all out resistance from state authorities, a Washington attorney has told a gathering of insurance executives.
Deregulator Looks Back, Unswayed
Back in 1950 in Columbus, Ga., a young nurse working double shifts to support her three children and disabled husband managed to buy a modest bungalow on a street called Dogwood Avenue.
What Happens When Your Insurer Goes Under?
Ever since the problems at the American International Group burst into the consciousness of everyday consumers two months ago, a sort of low-grade fear has set in among policyholders at insurance companies of all kinds.
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