Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, October 4
Oct 4, 2010
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Florida Insurance Commissioner meets Bermuda reinsurers
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was reportedly in Bermuda last week to meet leading reinsurance industry figures.
Florida’s Homeowners Market Still Roiled by Politics, Regulatory Changes
In November, Florida residents will elect a new governor and chief financial officer. The question is how the new political leadership will affect the homeowners insurance market, which industry representatives have called difficult, challenging, and even stifling.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune Cites Bipartisan Property Insurance Efforts In Alex Sink Endorsement
Florida’s next governor will assume the public office with vast experience as a chief executive in the private sector.
Editorial: State-run insurer remains on shaky ground
Rate hike is only small step toward financial stability
With September’s announcement that Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has been granted a rate increase, the state-run insurer is set to start the celebrated “glide path” to financial stability. That will take years, though.
Florida Senators pleased with tax relief for victims of toxic drywall
Two U.S. senators from Florida, on Thursday, welcomed the news that the U.S. Internal Service had issued guidance and relief for victims of contaminated drywall, much of it originating from China.
Large Sink Hole Closes Stretch Of Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Ruptured Water Main Causes Sink Hole, Prompts Closure Between Airoso Blvd., Bayshore Drive
A water main break caused a large sink hole to form that has shut down a major portion of Port St. Lucie Boulevard, and it may be days before the roadway will reopen.
Window film manufacturer Solamatrix acquired
Solamatrix Inc. was bought by Madico Inc., a manufacturer of advanced laminates in Woburn, Mass.
Floridians are being encouraged to register an emergency contact with the motor vehicle division under a state government campaign.
Blog: Lori Edwards ad hits rival Dennis Ross on insurance in U.S. House race
Television ad accuses Ross of being “friend to insurance industry”
Column: Recession Swells Florida Medicaid Rolls
Underscoring the pivotal role Medicaid will have in state budget decisions, a new report shows Florida was in the top tier of states that saw their health care programs for the poor and disabled soar in the worst economic recession since the Great Depression
North Broward Hospital district faces $80 million hit by privatizing
Proposal must offset impact of lost federal grants, higher costs
The North Broward Hospital District would face a financial hit of at least $80 million a year from lost federal grants and higher costs if it agrees to turn over its operation to a private nonprofit group, a district report says.
Miami Children’s Hospital $67M plan jump-starts use of e-medical records
Miami Children’s Hospital plans to spend $67 million for a massive overhaul to go digital – although federal stimulus funds should offset some of the costs
Blog: Consumer Reports lists best plans in Florida
Shopping for a good health insurance plan? The November issue of Consumer Reports lists private health plan rankings for all the states based on consumer satisfaction, preventive care and quality of treatment.
State high court to hear class-size debate
Classroom by classroom, Florida public school districts continue the march to reduce the number of students and finally meet the mandate voters approved eight years ago.
Blog: Florida complaints result in changes to BP claims process
BP claims czar Kenneth Feinberg yielded to critics and announced today that geographic proximity to the oil spill “would not prevent a legitimate individual or business claim from being processed.”
Groups work to sign up new voters before Monday deadline
Registration drives are not as extensive as in 2008
Republicans find their targets at gun shows. Democrats hunt at a gay and lesbian community center. Tea partiers visit churches and gun shows. And county workers head to an immigration office to tap newly naturalized citizens.
Hey, N.Y.! Fla. set to gain seats, bragging rights
If you’re a native Floridian like me, you tire of New Yorkers boasting about how much better things are in ”the city.” The bagels are chewier. The pizza is cheesier. The people are smarter.
The Wall Street Journal: Redistricting Creates Florida Alliances
Florida is getting an early start on the once-a-decade fight to redraw congressional districts, and the high-stakes battle in a fast-growing swing state is creating strange political bedfellows.
Former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole has landed a high-paying job at Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest electric utility company.
Scott, Thrasher lead fundraising contest
Sink, Gianoulis report modest donations and campaign spending
Republican Rick Scott continues to pour his own money into his campaign for governor while his Democratic opponent, Alex Sink, spent modestly last week, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.
Meek races to close the polling gap
The Senate candidate tells Democrats at a gala that he stands for the everyday people
U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek started Sunday in Jacksonville, campaigning at several churches.
Scott, Sink differ over expanding school vouchers, accountability
GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott released a proposal last week for revamping Florida’s K-12 school system that stresses his desire to “expand school choice” for students and parents.
Alex Sink’s business past could be issue in Florida race
But analysts says her opponent hasn’t attacked it because he is vulnerable on a similar front
Several months ago, when it seemed like the general election matchup for governor would feature Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum and Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Republican Governors Association began airing an ad ripping Sink for layoffs at her bank years ago.
- Alex Sink was on Sykes board when state, investors sued
- Sink says job losses were small in bank merger
Political novice Jim Horn, a Democrat funding his own campaign, hopes to unseat GOP Rep. Tom Rooney
The race for congressional District 16 is about experience, and the lack of it, as much as it is politics.
Democrat Nina Hayden runs against better-funded, well-known opponent for Florida Senate
Nina Hayden didn’t like the fact that no Democrat was stepping forward to challenge Republican Jack Latvala for the Florida Senate District 16 seat.
The New Yorker is out with a look at how the climate change bill died in the Senate, including the role played by Florida Sen. George LeMieux — who early on was said to be one of 5 Republicans backing the bill.
Waterways developer faces $30 million foreclosure on several Naples-area projects
Another Naples developer faces foreclosure.
A primer on the Florida constitutional amendments
GOP leadership took role in stopping Ike funding bill in U.S. House
Republican members of a powerful committee joined with the Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives to kill a bill last week that would have halted the loss of about $40 million in federal disaster grants for Hurricane Ike victims, according to congressional staff.
Court: California Surplus Line Insurers Should Not Be Double-Taxed
Surplus line insurers should not be subject to California Constitution Section 28 taxes to the state, according to a California Court of Appeal decision that notes that these nonadmitted insurers already pay surplus line premium taxes.
Advertising, Claims Handling Drive Reputations of Auto Insurers
Consumers have been highly satisfied with their auto insurance companies over the past year, and they view Allstate, State Farm and Geico as the most reputable auto insurance providers, according to a new survey.
California Insurers Must Disclose Cancellation Fees
Insurers in California will now be required to disclose cancellation penalties -prior to or concurrent with an application for insurance – thanks to legislation recently signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
New Cayman Reinsurance law to boost international business
Following the long awaited passage of the new insurance law, the legislation has been welcomed by members of the financial sector who say it puts Cayman is a position to meet market demand for a diverse range of reinsurance products.
Judge Grants Discovery of Postings on Social Media
Plaintiff must give defendant access to private postings from Facebook and MySpace that could contradict personal injury action claims
A plaintiff must give a defendant access to private postings from two social networking sites that could contradict claims she made in a personal injury action, a Suffolk County, N.Y., judge has ruled.
Company Stops Insuring Titles in Chase Foreclosures
A major title insurance company has stopped insuring homes foreclosed by JPMorgan Chase, another sign that the controversy over the legal practices of the big lenders is starting to influence the housing market.
News Release: A.M. Best Special Report – Workers’ Compensation Results Continue to Deteriorate
While the U.S. property/casualty industry recovered from the global financial crisis in 2009, the workers’ compensation segment’s underwriting performance continued to weaken.
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