Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, Dec. 13

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House Passes Alternative Terror Bill As Expiration Looms

WASHINGTON—House Democrats, in a move characterized by a Republican member as “futile,” passed and sent to the Senate a new bill to extend the federal terrorism risk insurance backstop for seven years, restoring provisions not included in the Senate’s more modest version.

 

State Audit Widens To Pension Fund

Auditors investigating last month’s run on an investment fund for local governments need to scrutinize Florida’s $137 billion pension fund as well, the fund’s top administrator said Wednesday.

 

Crist makes rare trip to Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – In an unusual detour from the Sunshine State, Gov. Charlie Crist flew to Louisiana’s capital Wednesday to meet a “kindred spirit” in that state’s governor-elect, Republican Bobby Jindal.

 

Crist, Jindal to work together on insurance, energy, environment

BATON ROUGE, La. — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal met Wednesday as new allies on issues like insurance, ethics, the environment and alternative energy.

 

Scruggs contempt case reassigned to Florida judge

The criminal contempt case of Mississippi trial lawyer Richard Scruggs was reassigned to a Florida judge Wednesday because 16 federal judges in north Alabama recused themselves from the case.

 

Florida’s top planner tells legislators: Tackle sprawl or voters will

With a public fuming over congestion and sprawl, state planners and legislative leaders are again seeking ways to better manage Florida’s growth.

 

Rubio to talk up tax cap

A grassroots tax reform movement could receive a significant boost next week when Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio travels to Bradenton to back the plan.

 

Letter to the Editor:  Strengthening home against storm is only half the My Safe Florida Home story

I’ve read very recent articles in the about getting the word out about the great discounts to be had by going through My Safe Florida Home program.

 

Editorial:  Progress on generators is simply disastrous

When the issue is life or death, you would think officials concerned about natural disasters in Florida would move at a speed at least somewhat faster than molasses flows.

 

Two scientists challenge hurricanes’ link to global warming

Everyone from atmosphere experts to Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore warn that global warming eventually will spawn super-strong storms. The warmer the oceans, the more powerful the hurricanes, they say.

 

Attorney General Bill McCollum:  Florida pension fund is secure

A Bloomberg article recently published in many Florida media outlets used broad generalities, gross overstatements and outdated information to report on the Florida Retirement System (FRS) pension fund.

 

Pension Chief Wants to Know: Are Funds Safe?

The head of the state agency that cuts pension checks asked auditors Wednesday to make sure money in the state’s $138 billion pension fund is safe while they’re looking into how a separate pool of government money got mired in mortgage fears.

 

December Storms Push Season Boundaries

The last day of November traditionally marks the end of hurricane season, but over the past five years, four storms have ignored the calendar and formed in December.

 

Martin County vote may be boon to hundreds of mobile homeowners

Hundreds of mobile homeowners in Martin County who want to build permanent residences on their land received a boost Tuesday from the County Commission.

 

Financial services firm USAA has a change of command

USAA Chairman and CEO Bob Davis retired suddenly this week from the San Antonio-based financial services giant after seven years as the head of the company.

 

FEMA to start testing air quality in trailers next week

NEW ORLEANS – Air-quality tests on the government-issued trailers housing thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane victims are scheduled to begin next Wednesday, nearly two months after the Federal Emergency Management Agency postponed them. 

 

State accuses Blue Shield of illegal cancellations

California’s top insurance regulator has accused Blue Shield, one of the state’s largest health plans, of 1,262 violations of claims-handling laws and regulations that resulted in more than 200 people losing their medical coverage.

 

NY regulator says Greenberg’s AIG fight violates rules

A New York State regulator said a group led by former AIG chief executive Hank Greenberg is in violation of state insurance laws concerning entities seeking to control insurance companies, a determination that could scuttle the group’s efforts to force AIG to explore strategic alternatives. 

 

Munich Re sees softer reinsurance cycle ahead

Munich Re sees somewhat weaker prices and conditions in reinsurance ahead, giving added importance to the group’s primary insurance activities, Munich Re’s chief executive said on Thursday.