Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, October 11
Oct 11, 2010
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Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today signed an Order establishing updated rates for Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
- To view the Order, click here.
Most Tampa Bay area condo owners to see drop in cost of Citizens insurance
Once more, Tampa Bay is being spared the brunt of Citizens Property Insurance rate hikes.
Regulator, Florida Insurer Seek to Limit ‘Excessive’ Claims
With the plethora of reasons homeowners insurers cite for the difficult underwriting environment in Florida, both insurers and a regulator agree legislative changes are needed to tackle the problem of excessive claims. But the hottest of the hot-button issues seem to currently be sinkholes, public adjusters and replacement-cost coverage.
Letter: Are homeowners being scammed with shoddy repairs?
Insurance companies are unjustly charging too much ($400-$600) for homeowners insurance. I do “uniform mitigation verification inspections.” These are inspections of people’s home structures to verify the hurricane protection systems such as shutters, roof attachment methods, etc.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development to help homeowners in Florida, other states with drywall issues
Housing and Urban Development officials have announced that families insured by the Federal Housing Administration experiencing problems associated with drywall may be eligible for assistance to help them rehabilitate their properties.
Vehicle arsons increase nationwide, but Treasure Coast, Florida show no such trend
Crash and burn your car for money?
With more people losing their jobs and homes, some have resorted to torching their cars to collect insurance checks, to escape high monthly payments and to get out of costly leases.
Tenet sells nine South Florida medical offices for $47M
Palm Beach Gardens-based AW Property Co. and a joint-venture partner bought nine medical offices buildings in South Florida from Tenet Healthcare Corp. for $47.1 million.
Getting U.S. Sugar land ready for Glades restoration would cost millions
$197 million deal to close Tuesday
A more than two-year odyssey of legal fights and political battles over buying U.S. Sugar farmland for Everglades restoration may ultimately prove easier than actually putting the land to use.
Blog: Florida builders heart Obama’s call for $50 billion in transportation spending
The Florida Transportation Builders’ Association is praising President Obama’s call for $50 billion in transportation spending, with president Bob Burleson calling it a “good start that will not only have the short-term economic impacts of increased job creation and retention but also move our nation into a higher realm of global competitiveness.
Florida Attorney General McCollum fights for subpoena from foreclosure law firm
Attorney General Bill McCollum is making a second run at trying to subpoena records from the Tampa-based foreclosure law firm Shapiro & Fishman.
Save Our Homes now shields far less property from taxes
Love it or hate it, the Save Our Homes property tax break has wielded a mighty influence in shaping Florida’s neighborhoods.
Gambling opponents see trouble with new Florida Lottery instant rewards game
A new Florida Lottery game offers payouts of up to $3 million and instant rewards – a combination that has gambling opponents worried.
State Representative Ambler’s suit to knock challenger Norman off ballot goes to trial Tuesday
On Tuesday, a Tallahassee judge will hear a case that could make or break the 18-year political career of Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman.
Florida Chamber launches improved scorecard
The Florida Chamber Foundation has released an updated Florida scorecard that provides statistical information broken down by the state’s 67 counties on such topics as employment, per capita income, college attainment, and other key economic metrics, according to a press release.
Trial set for Florida company execs in NJ plane crash
Co-founders of a defunct Florida company whose charter jets once carried high-end clients in the U.S. and abroad until a fiery crash in 2005 face a federal trial this week as prosecutors seek to show the company routinely compromised safety in the name of profit.
Meet Charlie Crist’s unconventional U.S. Senate campaign team
Margaret Wood cheered loudly and maybe more sincerely than most as Gov. Charlie Crist told a crowd gathered along his hometown waterfront in April that he was abandoning the GOP to run for the U.S. Senate as a nonpartisan candidate.
Marco Rubio’s meteoric rise in Florida politics
Marco Rubio’s meteoric rise in Florida politics is a story of unremitting ambition, natural talent and powerful connections that began 14 years ago in a Miami coffee shop.
Rick Scott’s IRS records show lower tax rate and higher income in 2009 on global investments
Rick Scott blames President Barack Obama for the nation’s economic woes, but Florida’s Republican nominee for governor is doing far better now than he did in the last year of George W. Bush’s presidency.
Can Rick Scott’s economic plan work?
Many of the questions surrounding Rick Scott’s campaign to be Florida’s next governor have centered on the massive fraud that occurred when he was CEO of what was then the nation’s largest health care chain, Columbia/HCA.
Alex Sink keeps running mate Rod Smith in background
Democratic candidate for governor Alex Sink didn’t have to look far to find a credible bulldog to raise sharp questions about Republican Rick Scott’s extensive legal and business baggage.
3 issues show differences between Florida Attorney General candidates Bondi, Gelber
When it comes to hot-button issues such as health care, school funding and gay adoption, attorney general candidates Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber have vastly different plans for the office.
U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, challenger Allen West fire familiar barbs in televised debate
Republican challenger Allen West slammed Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein on the economy during a televised debate today, while Klein defended the federal stimulus program and blasted West’s personal finances and residence outside congressional District 22.
President Obama fundraises for U.S. Representative Ron Klein
President Barack Obama is visiting South Florida to raise money for a Democratic congressman running for re-election.
Power may not rest in governor
Republicans need just a few legislative seats for a veto-proof majority
Millions of dollars are being spent to elect Florida’s next governor, but what happens over the next four years may hinge just as much on little-noticed races going on in Gainesville, Sarasota, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
Immigration issue could sway key races in Florida
Most politicians in Florida are keeping a safe distance from the explosive issue of immigration this year, but the ongoing national debate could make a crucial difference in the campaigns for governor and several close congressional races.
Title Insurers in Talks With Lenders on Foreclosure Warranties
Title insurers are in talks with banks and regulators to obtain warranties from lenders assuring they followed proper procedures before selling foreclosed homes, said Kurt Pfotenhauer, head of the insurers’ trade group.
Georgia Voters to Elect New Insurance Commissioner for First Time in 16 Years
For the first time in 16 years, voters in Georgia will select a new insurance commissioner, with three individuals seeking the post being vacated by John Oxendine. Republican State Sen. Ralph Hudgens, Democrat Mary Squires and Libertarian Shane Bruce all pledge to work to improve the competitive marketplace in the state.
Hey, That Ferrari? Put It In A Hurricane-Proof Vault
Americans have a lot of stuff. That obvious fact led to the creation in the 1960s and 1970s of a whole new business concept: the self-storage industry.
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