Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, December 9
Dec 9, 2010
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Blog: Inspections find Citizens policyholders owe $5 million more in premiums
Citizens plans to spend $41 million the next two years on home inspections aimed at revoking discounts policyholders should not be getting.
Broward cities or Insurance Companies: Whose taxes are worse?
Tamarac Commissioner Harry Dressler wants public outrage and attention shifted off city government tax hikes to property insurers, where, he says, residents often get more of a financial hit.
Florida-based Brown & Brown Acquires Ladd’s Agency
Insurance broker Brown & Brown has acquired the assets of Ladd’s Agency, an Upstate New York-based insurance agency owned by Alliance Financial Corp.
Crist Not Sure If He Will Sign Septic Tank Inspection Delay
Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday he has not decided whether he will sign the lone piece of new legislation to emerge from last month’s special session that saw lawmakers override several of his vetoes.
Price of flood insurance to decrease in parts of Pinellas and Hernando counties
Flood insurance premiums are heading down in two Tampa Bay area counties as a reward for improved efforts to protect floodplains and increase public safety.
Opinion: Public Adjusters and Insurers — Time to End the Cold War
For far too long, insurance carriers have viewed public adjusters as opponents rather than as potential allies.
Florida Department of Health critic wins powerful post
State Rep. Matt Hudson has led a controversial effort to overhaul the Florida Department of Health. Now, he will help control the agency’s purse strings — and a whole lot more.
Florida Senate President Haridopolos ready to fight health care
At the urging of President Mike Haridopolos, a Senate panel voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to revive a constitutional amendment that attempts to block federal health-care mandates.
Florida Tax Watch panel proposes Florida cost savings
A panel that includes Florida business leaders and state officials has come up with 125 ideas that it says could save $4 billion in state spending.
SunRail back on track after Amtrak backs down
Amtrak backed off its demands Wednesday for an ironclad insurance deal with SunRail, clearing the tracks for the Central Florida commuter train to roll again toward a startup in 2013.
Blog: Redistricting timeline stretches final deadline to June 2012
The Senate’s redistricting guru, John Guthrie, told the Senate Reapportionment Committee on Thursday that the timeline for finishing its work will be compressed and difficult, based on the tentative schedule before them.
Florida Department of Management Services releases Annual Workforce Report
Gov.-elect Rick Scott has promised to shrink the size of state government, but he’s inheriting an already-downsized personnel system when he’s sworn in next month.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Florida Senator Bennett to refile split-up growth bill
A massive 2009 legislative overhaul of the growth management laws that has been tied up in court may be re-written in the coming year as separate pieces of legislation, a leading Senate critic of the state’s growth laws said Wednesday.
Florida Supreme Court upholds evidence exclusion
The Florida Supreme Court has refused to back off from a prior ruling that excludes evidence obtained by police if they knock on a suspect’s door but fail to announce why they are there.
U.S. Representative Mica of Winter Park confirmed as new transportation committee chair
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, was confirmed as expected today by vote of the House Republican Conference to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the 112th Congress
State lawmakers struggling with unemployment tax issue
Florida lawmakers began struggling with another huge, automatic unemployment compensation tax hike Wednesday, nine months after reducing most of an even bigger one.
Editorial: Lawmakers eye Internet sales tax
THE ISSUE: Florida legislators consider Internet sales tax agreement. OUR OPINION: Agreement could level playing field for local merchants
Are Internet sales taxable? Are they taxed? The answer to the first is yes. The answer to the second is sort of like answering how high is up.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Florida House Wants to Restrict Court’s Role
The Florida House has begun exploring steps giving the Legislature more authority to get proposed state constitutional amendments before voters without risking having measures struck down by a court.
Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, and Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation have formally announced runs to lead House Democrats in 2012.
Rod Smith a step closer to being state Democratic Party chairman
The local lawyer was elected state committeeman of the county’s Democratic Party
Rod Smith was elected state committeeman of the Alachua County Democratic Party on Wednesday night, making him eligible to become the state party’s next chairman, as is expected to happen in January.
Doors’ Jim Morrison pardoned in Florida for indecent exposure
Florida’s Clemency Board has posthumously pardoned singer Jim Morrison of The Doors for his 40-year-old conviction on indecent exposure and profanity charges
Crist re-enacts signing of bill for civil-rights hall of fame
Backed by black legislators and civil-rights activists, Gov. Charlie Crist paid tribute to Florida’s role in the movement for equality Wednesday with the ceremonial signing of legislation creating a state civil-rights hall of fame.
Florida juvenile justice chief faces ethics charge
The state Ethics Commission has found probable cause that Florida’s juvenile justice chief corruptly misused his position or state resources through excessive air travel between Tallahassee and his hometown, St. Petersburg.
Blog: GOP fundraiser admits guilt in corruption case, says he steered $82K to Mandy Dawson
Alan Mendelsohn, an influential South Florida eye doctor and prominent GOP fundraiser, admitted in court this morning that he steered $82,000 to former state Sen. Mandy Dawson while she was in office.
Illinois Representative Biggert named chair of U.S. House insurance subcommittee
Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., will serve as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee’s subcommittee that has jurisdiction over insurance, Committee Chairman-elect Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., said Thursday.
U.S. Limits Sale Of Mini Med Insurance Plans
Affordable Care Act increases transparency for consumers in mini-med plans
The Department of Health and Human Services today released new guidance that will give consumers more information about their health insurance plan.
Guy Carpenter licensed to operate in China
Reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter & Co. L.L.C. said Thursday that it has been awarded a wholly owned foreign enterprise broking license by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.
Marsh execs join Lloyd’s of London insurance broker
Houlder Insurance Services Ltd. is looking to grow its aviation business with the hiring of two executives from Marsh Ltd.
New York Times: Washington Rule Makers Out of the Shadows
Federal rule makers, long the neglected stepchildren of Washington bureaucrats, suddenly find themselves at the center of power as they scramble to work out details of hundreds of sweeping financial and health care regulations that will ultimately affect most Americans.
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