Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, December 3
Dec 3, 2009
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THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Sparks Fly on Liability Early in Senate Rail Debate.
Supporters of the rail bill that has pulled lawmakers into special session this week have argued that liability provisions of the train legislation have changed from the plan that was defeated in the Senate last session.
Blog: Demotech Suspends Magnolia Insurance Rating
Insurance rating agency Demotech suspended its rating for Coconut Grove-based Magnolia Insurance Co. With 100,275 policies, Magnolia is among Florida’s 20 largest property insurers.
California, Florida Regulators Demand Insurers Drop Iran Investments
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said an inquiry has revealed state insurers hold $12 billion in indirect Iran-related investments and he will push them to divest, leading another regulator to say Poizner’s effort should go national.
Five-Part Series: Hurricane-proofing discounts attacked by insurance industry
State leaders and the insurance industry have sent the message time and again to Florida homeowners.
Supreme Court justices appear to side with Florida property owners over who owns the beach
Hearing arguments today in a Florida beach case, the Supreme Court justices sounded as though they agreed with property owners who said their right to a private beach could not be taken away when the state added new sand to an eroded shoreline.
Jacksonville awaits green light for red-light cameras
Red-light cameras were supposed to come to Jacksonville in 2007. That plan was indefinitely delayed when a City Hall lawyer determined that installing cameras at some of the major traffic intersections might violate Florida law.
Some Florida MRI centers help addicts, dealers get pain pills
It’s a midnight scene detectives have watched many times in the past year.
State lawmakers return to the Capitol today to decide whether and how to support two commuter rail projects in Central and South Florida.
CFO Sink Pushes for Stronger Pension Fund Oversight at Investment Advisory Council
Florida CFO Alex Sink presented her three proposals to improve the oversight of the state’s pension fund and protect Floridians’ retirement security at a meeting of the Investment Advisory Council (IAC) this morning.
Column: Lawmakers seek to have condo issues addressed at special legislative session
Two South Florida lawmakers called upon colleagues Wednesday to add condominium issues to a special session of the Florida Legislature, pushing a bill that aims to lift the ailing housing market by helping bulk buyers of condo units.
Falling Florida property values to pose problem for legislators
Florida’s real estate market is crumbling so badly that the taxable property value for schools statewide will tumble 9.5 percent next year, state economists forecast Wednesday.
Florida High Court calls Grand Jury to probe South Florida
The Florida Supreme Court gave Gov. Charlie Crist his statewide grand jury Wednesday, authorizing a year-long probe of corruption in South Florida.
Rothstein trial set for January
A day after disgraced lawyer Scott Rothstein’s arrest, a federal judge set his trial for two weeks in January.
- Rothstein’s wooing of politicians was part of scam, prosecutors say
- Sarasota alleged Ponzi schemer’s own words haunt him
Security rollout begins for Miami Super Bowl
The rollout has begun for stepped-up security measures at Miami’s three major postseason football events: the Orange Bowl, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl No. 44.
U.S. House Committee Passes Federal Insurance Office Act
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has passed a measure to create a scaled-back federal office that would be a national insurance information agency with some authority in the area of international insurance agreements.
Perils launches European loss index
Insurance body launches Europe windstorm index early
New European industry loss index, PERILS, has launched its service for European windstorm events ahead of its planned date of January 2010.
Swiss Re places $150M catastrophe bond
Swiss Reinsurance Co. said Thursday that it has received protection for up to $150 million in natural catastrophe losses from North Atlantic hurricane, European windstorm and California earthquake risks.
Auto Insurance Premiums Dropped Nationwide, Says NAIC
Average U.S. automobile premium rates dropped by close to 3 percent in 2007 from the previous year with drivers in Washington, D.C. paying the most for their insurance, state regulators reported.
State insurance regulators are undertaking a review of the regulatory framework for insurance markets in the U.S. as part of the Solvency Modernization Initiative of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
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