Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, April 29
Apr 29, 2010
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Paige St. John: State’s insurers avoid oversight
Thanks to pressure from the industry, key property insurance legislation will move forward this week without reforms designed to stop companies from hiding unwarranted profits.
House passes legislation allowing Florida property insurers to raise rates
The Florida House passed a broad measure Wednesday to strengthen the state’s property insurance market by raising rates and lowering insurers’ claims costs.
Castle Key writing 50,000 new policies
Insurance company to write plans through 2011
Castle Key Insurance Cos. plans to write 50,000 additional homeowners and renters insurance policies in Florida through 2011, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said Wednesday.
Blog: Former FEMA chief backs Florida Congressman Klein’s insurance bill
James Lee Witt, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is promoting Congressman Ron Klein’s bill to create a national insurance pool to cover mega-disasters.
Florida Median Auto Insurance Rate Now $787 per Household
The median six-month auto insurance rate in Florida has increased approximately 4.8 percent over the last six months to reach $787 according to InsWeb, a leading online insurance comparison provider.
Blog: House sends street-racing bill to Crist
The House just gave final passage to a bill stiffening penalties for street racing, a repsonse three years in the making to the racing-related death of 16-year-old Luis Ortega in Central Florida.
Bill would provide death benefits to firefighters killed during training
Family of Volusia County firefighter John Curry would get benefits
With just two days left in the state Legislature’s session, some lawmakers hope to get a vote on a bill that would provide death benefits to the families of firefighters killed during training exercises.
For health insurance, Florida customers keep the faith
A small but growing number of Christians are ditching conventional health insurance for faith-based health collectives, where members pay each other’s bills directly.
Florida Recovers Over $8.25 Million from National AstraZeneca Medicaid Settlement
State’s General Revenue Fund to receive $4 million
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that the Florida Medicaid Program will receive more than $4.25 million as part of a global settlement totaling $520 million with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
Florida Senate sponsor OK with 72-hour dispensing rule; pill mill bill appears likely to pass
Lawmakers appear to have reached agreement on a landmark bill regulating pill mills, including a change approved in the House today that would ban clinics from dispensing more than 72-hours worth of medication at a time.
Charlie Crist will run for Senate with no party affiliation
Gov. Charlie Crist, a pariah in the Republican Party that has been vital to his success, will launch a risky political career today as a “people’s candidate” for the U.S. Senate with no party affiliation.
- Bidding war could erupt for independent Sen. Crist
- Column: It’s Charlie’s big day
- U.S. Senate candidates Rubio, Meek file qualifying papers
In Tallahassee today, conservative causes
It is a day for conservative causes in the Florida Senate.
Oil spill probably won’t hit Florida’s Panhandle beaches this weekend
Governor: State will cooperate in cleanup
A massive oil slick from a collapsed rig 130 miles off the coast of New Orleans is so big it’s “humbling,” but probably won’t hit Florida’s pristine Panhandle beaches this weekend, Florida’s top environmental regulator told Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday.
- Blog: Sen. Haridopolos says oil spill ‘gives me pause’ on pursuit of drilling in Florida
- Florida U.S. Representatives Castor, Young seek bigger buffer for drilling
Crist unsure if he’ll veto Florida budget bill
A top House Democrat predicted Gov. Charlie Crist will veto the annual budget bill, but the governor said today that he’s undecided.
- Details of the 2010-2011 budget bill that lawmakers are expected to pass Friday
- Editorial: Florida’s most irresponsible budget ever
Florida Senate plan feeds abortion debate
Florida’s Republican-led Senate pushed through an 11th-hour provision Wednesday that would require women seeking an abortion in their first trimester of pregnancy to pay for ultrasound exams.
3rd redistricting amendment may go on Florida ballot
The Republican-controlled Legislature’s response to two citizen initiatives on redistricting may soon be headed for Florida’s Nov. 2 ballot.
Crist gets bill to boost aid to Florida’s jobless
More than 100,000 jobless Floridians may get 14 more weeks of temporary unemployment compensation.
Florida House approves bill with many tax breaks to create jobs
A wide-ranging economic development bill passed by the Florida House on Wednesday includes a long menu of tax cuts and incentives to businesses designed to create jobs and provide a shot in the arm for the state’s sagging economy.
Florida power companies come out winners
Florida’s big electric companies scored two major victories in the waning days of the legislative session that some observers say could lead to rate increases and less competition for renewable energy.
New gambling law is a big deal for Florida
Bigger giveaways. More blackjack. Poker like it has never been played here before. Maybe even a new hotel or two.
Debit card surcharge ban may get Senate hearing; House already approved
Floridians may wield their debit cards freely, following a legislative agreement Wednesday to ban customer surcharges on the popular alternative to cash, credit and check.
Bill to ease financial pressure on condo associations advances
Desperate condominium associations, struggling with delinquent investors and lengthy foreclosure proceedings, would be awarded more back fees and have the power to bypass owners to collect rent, in a bill Florida lawmakers are considering this week.
Florida House bill requires tracking ephedrine sales
The Florida House has passed a bill requiring retailers to track over-the-counter sales of ephedrine, which can be used to manufacture the illegal drug methamphetamine.
Florida Department of Health could get reprieve
Senate negotiators this morning proposed scaling back an ambitious House plan to reorganize the Florida Department of Health.
Crist’s signature expected on bill requiring county votes on children’s services councils
Gov. Crist’s signature is all that is needed to require voters in Martin, St. Lucie and six other Florida counties to reaffirm their support of their children’s services councils.
Gov. Crist comes to aid of boy who fainted in Capitol
An 11-year-old boy collapsed and fainted Wednesday in the Capitol courtyard during a midday event recognizing members of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.
Florida Legislature leaders raise big bucks from special interests
Florida allows sitting lawmakers to create and control independent political funds called Committees of Continuous Existence that can receive tens of thousands of dollars from special interests. They are entirely separate from legislators’ campaign accounts, and the money raised by political parties. Lawmakers may spend CCE money however they want – to pay their own political expenses, push their causes, or contribute to any candidate they favor.
Congressman Connie Mack files for re-election
Congressman Connie Mack filed for re-election today.
Chinese Drywall Maker Says It Is in Talks With Builders
A Chinese drywall maker said it is negotiating with U.S. home builders to settle claims that the company supplied them with a faulty product.
New Company Offers Coast Wind Coverage
A new insurance company called Coastal American Insurance Co. will sell homeowner policies with wind coverage in South Mississippi.
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has announced that the Department of Insurance has received the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s filing to establish a schedule of mitigation credits for homeowners insurance policies in North Carolina.
U.S. Targets Crop Insurers’ Profits
The federal government wants to save taxpayers billions of dollars by reducing spending on crop insurance after years of big profits by insurers, but the industry claims the reductions could hurt rural areas.
Bills Banning Handheld Phones While Driving Pass Louisiana Committee
Two bills that would ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving have breezed out of the Louisiana House of Representatives Transportation Committee.
PCI Applauds House Committee Passage of Waters National Flood Insurance Program Bill
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America today commended the House Financial Services Committee for passing H.R. 5114, the “Flood Insurance Reform and Priorities Act of 2010”, sponsored by Representative Maxine Waters (D-Ca.).
IBHS Plans to Blow the Roof Off (Literally)
Researchers said by summer’s end they plan to start extensive tests on a gigantic new facility that will try to blow apart houses to gauge the effects of hurricane winds.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to bellis@cftlaw.com.