Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, October 27

 

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MySafe Florida Home program ending in June

Thousands of Floridians whose homes were built to withstand only minimal hurricane winds will be left without financial assistance for strengthening roofs, windows and doors when the statewide My Safe Florida Home program ends in June.

FLORIDA INSURANCE COUNCIL:  Hurricane Catastrophe Fund as iffy as season

The Advisory Council to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund last week acknowledged that the fund’s real claims-paying capacity is only about half what it promised to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and private insurers. That shocking announcement is more terrifying considering how close Hurricane Ike came to hitting Miami-Dade County as a Category 3 or 4 storm.

EDITORIAL:  Florida’s Medicaid Reform Plan In Danger Of Failing

Gov. Jeb Bush sold his “Medicaid Reform” plan by convincing lawmakers the managed care program would make it easier for patients to receive care while allowing the state to better control Medicaid’s budget.

BOB LOTANE:  Market meltdown offers a cautionary tale for Florida

While there are many culprits at fault for the recent Wall Street meltdown, there is no doubt that a big cause was the failure of our country’s regulatory/political structure. These entities did not properly assess risk, vastly underestimated cost and woefully neglected to provide oversight. Yes, by doing this they pleased large populations of voters — both on Wall Street and on Main Street. But the price of this political populism, we now know, is brutal.

Fay victims with insurance may still be eligible for disaster assistance

As the Nov. 10 deadline to apply for disaster assistance approaches, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) are reminding those individuals who were initially denied assistance because they have homeowners’ or flood insurance that they may still be eligible for assistance.

Tropical Storm Fay disaster relief tops $21 million

Federal officials are reporting this morning that Florida counties that suffered flood damages and other related disaster impact from Tropical Storm Fay have received to date more than $21 million in federal assistance.

Clinic run by med students receives $22K in grants

The region’s uninsured or under-insured patients, many dealing with chronic illnesses, stand in line for hours each Thursday waiting for the doors of the free clinic, at 625 SW 4th Ave., to open at 6 p.m.

EDITORIAL:  It’s the money, not Mahoney

You have to ask: Why has Martin County received $3.4 million in disputed FEMA reimbursements while St. Lucie County still is waiting – and waiting, and waiting – for the $2.1 million FEMA so obviously owes?

The bank buffet:  Florida banks see changes

Bill Klich had never seen anything like it in his 38-year banking career.

TIME:  Governor Crist One of the Five Most Important People In Politics

Florida Governor Charlie Crist tied with Tom Ridge in a Time Magazine Listing of “The Five Most Important People in Politics Not Running for President”

Safe seats become hot ones for Florida GOP

Tom Feeney’s path to Congress was easy. As Florida House speaker in 2002, he used his power to carve a safe seat for himself.

Surge of new voters raises bar for amendments to qualify for ballot

Florida’s potential for a record-breaking voter turnout on Nov. 4 could have an ironic consequence for the citizen groups trying to amend the state’s constitution.

Space Coast jobs, health care dominate U.S. House District 15 race

The open seat for U.S. House District 15 held by Dave Weldon has attracted four candidates hoping to win the spot in November.

Election 2008:  Three seek to take Congressional seat from Connie Mack

It is a race populated with familiar faces.

An incumbent from a generations-old political family, a three-time challenger from the other party and a state senator facing term limits all join a newcomer to face off in the race for Florida’s 14th Congressional district.

Panel to pick new Fla. chancellor by July 1, 2009

A committee looking for a new State University System chancellor wants to expand its search beyond academia to business and other fields, but salary limitations may complicate that effort

Disease, storms and development have shrunk Florida’s citrus groves to new lows

Pete Spyke is doing everything he can to beat citrus greening.

Citizens policy depopulation attracts new insurers to Louisiana market

Efforts to reduce the number of policies the state-backed property insurer of last resort holds while attracting new insurance companies to the state are beating insurance officials’ expectations.

Insurers Are Getting in Line for Piece of Federal Bailout

The chase for a piece of the Treasury Department’s $700 billion bailout program intensified Friday as the government considered extending it to include insurance companies as well as banks, and the auto industry stepped up efforts to secure a share of the money.

Groups Claim Fair Value ‘Judgment’ Is Too Murky

Leaders of six business associations have written a joint letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission complaining that recent guidance about the use of judgment in fair value accounting “has the potential to cloud transparency.”

Medicare officials to review insurers’ commissions

Federal health officials said Friday they will soon address growing concerns about the lucrative commissions that some Medicare insurers plan to pay their agents and brokers this year.

PCI Leadership Sees Regulatory Reforms Ahead

The leadership of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), at their meeting here on Sunday, said they are well positioned strategically and financially to press their members’ case in a different regulatory environment.

OP-ED:  Business Finally Fights Back

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce throws its weight against a filibuster-proof Senate.

Ten days to election, and they are pouring millions into ads, canvassing neighborhoods, making calls, getting out the vote, enraging Democrats — all in an effort to turn around a dire political situation. The Republican National Committee? No. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Vermont collects $205 million from insurer

The state of Vermont has received $205 million in a lawsuit against accounts for an insurance company that went bankrupt a quarter century ago and left about 20,000 people in several states with outstanding claims.

California Commissioner Announces 5% Workers’ Comp Rate Increase

Rejecting the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s (WCIRB) call for a 16 percent increase in the benchmark for determining workers’ compensation costs, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner accepted a more moderate 5 percent increase to reflect higher medical and claims adjustment costs to the system.

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