Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, November 24
Nov 24, 2008
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Travelers Plan Ready For Florida Crisis, CEO Fishman Says
The chairman of Travelers said his company prepared a four-pronged solution to solve coastal insurance problems, and federal lawmakers can dust it off and grab onto it when the inevitable crisis in Florida propels them into action.
New Florida condo law is about to take effect
In a situation that might qualify as a ‘be careful what you wish for’ tale, several new Florida laws related to condominium insurance policies are slated to go into effect Jan. 1. The problem is they are essentially unworkable as currently written — leaving many condo owners, community associations and insurance agents in a state of confusion about how to proceed.
Workers’ comp rates may not drop so much
The National Council on Compensation Insurance may not be able to offer the rate cuts it promised to Florida employers after all.
New companies encouraged to insure in Florida
When it comes to Florida property insurance, political realities in Tallahassee are clashing head on with traditional industry standards of fiscal responsibility. The homeowner is caught in the middle.
Past suggests Florida insurer may be bit of a risk
The owner of a private insurance company approved by the state to assume the largest number of policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has an almost two-decade history of not paying personal bills.
United offers new insurance plans
UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Co. has launched a new portfolio of health insurance plans for individuals and families in Florida and 19 other states.
Wholesale Broker Advanced E & S Group Acquires Florida’s Symons
Hollywood, Florida-based insurance wholesale broker Advanced E & S Group has acquired Symons International Group of Boca Raton and merged it into its Florida operation.
Florida Has New Agency: VanDyke Norman Opens for Business
VanDyke Norman Insurance began operations on Nov. 17 in St. Augustine, Florida
The newly created insurance agency is led by Kevin VanDyke and Andy Norman. VanDyke was formerly the president of Skinner Nurseries of Jacksonville, while Norman was a producer with Thompson Baker Agency of St. Augustine.
SCOTT WALLACE: Citizens Insurance believes in choice
The recent article, “Citizens Insurance draws complaints over switching customers’ policies,” concerning the removal of policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., did a disservice to consumers by not accurately informing them of their right to choose their insurance provider.
Medicare payments halted to more Miami-Dade healthcare providers
With a federal judge defending its authority, Medicare plans to suspend payments to more home healthcare providers in Miami-Dade suspected of overcharging the government.
Medicare will suspend millions of dollars in payments to dozens of additional home healthcare providers in Miami-Dade after a federal judge ruled it has the power to stop reimbursements to companies suspected of overcharging for diabetic and other services.
COLUMN: Insurance firm looks to buy struggling bank in Florida
A troubled Florida thrift will be acquired by a giant insurance company as part of the federal government’s bank bailout program.
Lee County out $1.2 million due to Fay’s flooding
Lee County will request roughly $1.24 million in federal reimbursement from Tropical Storm Fay expenses, significantly less than was requested for previous storms like Hurricanes Wilma and Charley, public records show.
Home savings: Amendment 3 encourages solar power, storm protection
Businesses that sell solar power or hurricane protection for homes in Lee County are getting a boost Jan. 1 when Amendment 3 to the Florida Constitution takes effect.
The amendment, which barely received the 60 percent needed for passage, says that improvements to energy efficiency or wind resistance cannot be used by county property appraisers to increase the assessed value of someone’s primary residence.
Question of the month, even the year, is: Will there be a special session of the Florida Legislature?
Unlike the special session in the U.S. Congress, any special session in Florida won’t be a “lame-duck session.”
Mayor Baker’s a prime player for Sink’s CFO job
Mayor Rick Baker’s political future may depend on which office state CFO Alex Sink, a Democrat, decides to run for.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has long looked like a guy with further political ambitions once he leaves office in 2010. The question is, what next? The Republican’s political prospects will ebb fast once he leaves office and his profile dims, but he has pretty much ruled out running for Congress if C.W. Bill Young retires. Charlie Crist has the Governor’s Mansion.
State deficit grows; will taxes have to rise?
State economists punched a $2.1 billion hole in the state budget Friday, precipitating the need for a special lawmaking session and talk of possible tax increases.
The state’s barebones budget now has a $2.1 billion hole, state economists said in a Friday forecast that all but guarantees Gov. Charlie Crist will call a special legislative session to manage the deficit and consider what was once a non-starter: tax increases.
Will proposed road projects help?
With a backdrop featuring a specially made “Accelerate Florida” logo, Gov. Charlie Crist heralded his decision to expedite $1.4 billion in road construction projects during an October press conference as a critical move to “really help and stimulate our economy.”
Some Fear Frequency May Dilute Silver Alerts
It happened again last week.
An 82-year-old St. Petersburg man suffering from dementia drove away from his home about 10 a.m. Wednesday and never returned.
COLUMN: Crist, Schwarzenegger Meet Again
With the economy’s tailspin hitting California and Florida especially hard, where were the state’s respective Republican governors – Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlie Crist – last week? The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, for the “Governors’ Global Climate Summit.”
Fla. ranks 32nd in state competitiveness
Florida ranks 32nd in the nation when it comes to luring business and providing a high standard of living for its residents, according to a report released on Wednesday.
Eight Southern governorships up in 2010
Here’s a look at the eight Southern governorships that will be decided in 2010.
Joint Statement by Treasury, Federal Reserve and the FDIC on Citigroup
The U.S. government is committed to supporting financial market stability, which is a prerequisite to restoring vigorous economic growth. In support of this commitment, the U.S. government on Sunday entered into an agreement with Citigroup to provide a package of guarantees, liquidity access and capital.
CIAB Urges Treasury To Use TARP Program’s Insurance Component
An Aon Corp. official speaking on behalf of a national brokerage group urged the Treasury Department last week to make use of the yet to be developed insurance component of the Troubled Asset Relief Program as a means of opening up tight U.S. credit markets.
Litigation Escalating Globally, Lloyd’s Cautions
Although tort filings in the United States and the United Kingdom have fallen from a 1980s peak, large-scale corporate litigation could be an emerging trend, Lloyd’s warned in a presentation here this week.
Premier Insurance Hit Over Home-Auto Tie-In On Rates
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office said Travelers subsidiary Premier Insurance Company’s auto policy rates discriminate against drivers who don’t buy homeowners coverage as well, and called for a hearing on the issue.
Work cut out for next OSHA chief
Even with optimism that comes with new president, many battles to be fought
Frustration permeated a Washington hearing room in June as a House labor committee took testimony on construction safety that focused on fatalities in Las Vegas and other places.
Louisiana’s Governor pushes a creative Medicaid reform.
Bobby Jindal, Louisiana’s prodigy Governor, has been arguing lately that only policy innovators will break a path out of the GOP’s political wilderness — and he is leading by example. Mr. Jindal recently announced a major renovation of the way his state provides health coverage to the poor and uninsured, thus taking up a topic for which most Republicans require a shot of epinephrine just to pay attention.
Hitting the High Seas? Check Your Pirate Insurance.
It took the original “Pirates of the Caribbean” more than a week to earn $100 million at the box office. It took the pirates of the Somali coast less than a day to seize $100 million worth of crude oil last week. Thar be pirates, indeed.
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