Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, April 10

 

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State Senate OKs insurance bill; next step is House

The Florida Senate passed a massive insurance bill with some consumer protections but no immediate steps to lower insurance rates.

Florida Senate Property Insurance Bill Pleases Regulators, Angers Insurers

As insurers and other interested parties criticized a Florida property insurance bill that passed through the state Senate this week on a 32-7 vote, Florida’s insurance commissioner lauded the action.

Senate solidly behind Citizens rate freeze

Citizens Property Insurance rates would be frozen for the third consecutive year, and private insurers would have to base premiums on state-approved hurricane predictions under a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate.

OPINION: Dangerous winds blowing in Tallahassee

One of our local legislators has a sign hanging in his office that reads “Your life, liberty and property are at risk whenever the Legislature is in session.”

State fires back at Allstate

Regulators want to keep an order in place that blocks the writing of new policies.

State insurance regulators say Allstate hasn’t done a good job of explaining why it should be permitted to sell new policies in Florida.

Lawmaker questions investment pool bonuses

A state lawmaker is questioning more than $28,000 in bonuses that were paid to State Board of Administration officials for work performed even as the agency was mired in a multibillion-dollar run on one of the investment pools it managed.

Appraisal legislation meets the budget ax

County property appraisers often appraise their own property. A plan to change that was largely gutted for budget reasons.

At a time when Floridians are raging about unfairness of the property tax system, lawmakers attempted to root out one apparent and overlooked conflict of interest: county property appraisers appraising their own homes.

Crist wants to slash state’s gas tax

Echoing the calls for a national gas-tax holiday by Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday urged state legislators to eliminate the state gas tax temporarily this summer to give families a reprieve during tough economic times.

Crist’s health plan sails through Senate

Florida has the third-highest percentage in the nation of residents without health insurance, and on Wednesday, the state Senate unanimously passed Gov. Charlie Crist’s plan aimed at dramatically reducing those numbers.

Health plan for uninsured still faces hurdles

Coverage for the uninsured passes the Senate, but the House backs another version.

The Florida Senate unanimously approved Gov. Charlie Crist’s health insurance proposal Wednesday, but the measure continues to be a hard sell in the state House.

EDITORIAL: Federal health-care funding for Florida needs a dose of skepticism, a shot in the arm

From local health departments to state officials, Florida must be more aggressive in seeking aid

Congress May Seek Criminal Probe of Altered Earmark

The Senate moved yesterday toward asking the Justice Department for a criminal investigation of a $10 million legislative earmark whose provisions were mysteriously altered after Congress gave final approval to a huge 2005 highway funding bill.

Senate Passes Ban on Sewage Dumping

Utilities in South Florida eventually would have to stop dumping 300 million gallons of sewage a day into the ocean under a bill passed by the Senate.

Florida: Water Plan Favors Georgia

Florida would still “bear the brunt” of Georgia’s lack of drought planning under the Bush administration’s latest water-sharing plan for the Southeast, a Florida congressman says.

Plan withdrawn — for now — on drilling as close as 25 miles to Florida coast

The author of a plan to allow drilling as close as 25 miles off Florida withdrew it Wednesday but plans to bring it up again soon.

Legal fight vowed after Crist signs guns-to-work law

Groups say they’ll challenge Crist

As Gov. Charlie Crist signed the Florida Legislature’s controversial guns-to-work bill into law Tuesday, business interests vowed to take the fight to a new arena: the courtroom.

Energy bill moves toward vote in Senate

A sweeping energy bill that seeks to increase renewable energy production and reduce Florida’s greenhouse-gas emissions is moving toward a vote in the Senate today with few remaining issues.

Inquiry: Train Plan Railroaded Secretly

Jeb Bush probably knew of it three years ago

In retrospect, a comment at a state Senate committee meeting three years ago was dripping with irony.

Hurricane evacuation route expanding

Years after the push to establish a four-lane link from the Gulf Coast to Interstate 65 in Alabama, work is finally under way.

Orlando lawmaker Siplin jubilant after high court dismisses ethics complaint

Reversal of the lawmaker’s conviction removes the reason for an investigation, the court rules.

The two-year nightmare is over for state Sen. Gary Siplin.

Dunedin mayor switches parties, eyes Young’s seat

Mayor Bob Hackworth confirmed Wednesday he will run for the seat in Congress held by Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores.

Legislation to Expand Liability Risk Retention Act Introduced into Congress

Legislation designed to modernize the federal Liability Risk Retention Act (LRRA) of 1986 was introduced into Congress yesterday.

Kanjorski Says Bill Is Ready To Create U.S. Insurance Agency

A key lawmaker said at a House hearing on financial reform today that he is ready to introduce legislation creating a federal insurance regulatory agency.

Open Competition Without Price Controls is Key to Improved Insurance Regulation, NAMIC Tells Congress

Simplifying and modernizing the nation’s financial regulatory process within the current regulatory system will lead to better products and costs for insurance consumers, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

Insurance Compact Testifies To Start-Up Success

Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission (IIPRC) Executive Director Frances Arricale testified today before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, highlighting the successful state-based efforts to modernize insurance regulation under the Interstate Insurance Compact.

NAMIC: Punitive Insurance Bill Passed by Florida Senate Will Hurt Consumers

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) today said legislation going to the Florida House of Representatives would curtail competition and dissuade new insurers from entering the marketplace. Senate Bill 2860 was passed by the chamber on a vote of 32-7.

NAIC Testifies To Ongoing, Successful Efforts To Improve Insurance Supervision

On behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), New York State Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo testified today before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises about the states’ ongoing, successful efforts to improve insurance supervision.

Insurers Overly Focused On Cat Models, Says Expert

Insurers have become too reliant on catastrophe models when deciding which risks should be cancelled and which ones are acceptable, a pioneer in the modeling field told an industry gathering here yesterday.

Better Data Needed to Fight Cargo Thefts, Say Insurers, Law Enforcement

It’s like “Gone in 60 Seconds” with tractor trailers.

Thieves steal billions of dollars of electronics, medicine, vehicles and other items from U.S. businesses each year by targeting trucks and other cargo shipments, and insurance and law enforcement leaders say better data is needed to fight the problem.

Texas coast misses out on insurance drop

Home insurance rates have dropped an average 6.6 percent statewide since lawmakers passed major reforms five years ago, Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin said Wednesday.

Texas Windstorm Pool Seeks to Increase Reinsurance Level for 2008

Citing increased exposure along the Texas coast, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has requested Commissioner of Insurance Mike Geeslin to authorize the purchase of $1.5 billion in reinsurance for the windstorm pool for the 2008 hurricane season.

Texas Workers’ Comp Division Assesses $63K in Penalties

Disciplinary actions taken by Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts in February and March 2008 totaled $63,800 for violations of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, the Texas Department of Insurance announced.

Tennessee Consumers To Benefit From Stricter Insurance Regulations

Tennessee consumers will obtain new protections from the first major overhaul of state insurance regulations in more than a quarter century, officials said Tuesday.

Mich. House Passes Auto Insurance Bills; No Vote Taken on Credit Ban

The Democrat-led Michigan House has passed bills supporters say could make auto insurance more affordable for some Michigan residents.

Insurer Bad Faith Bill Now On Minn. Gov’s Desk

Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to sign a recently approved measure setting penalties for bad faith actions by insurers, according to an industry trade group, which said the modified bill was “acceptable.”

Another Insurance Association Joins Fight to Defeat Colorado Auto Rate Bill

Another insurance association is joining in the fight to defeat Colorado House Bill 1389.

California Earthquake Authority To Use New Science in Determining Rates

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) announced today it will begin using a newly released, uniform scientific method in determining insurance rates and the most accurate prices for consumers.