Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, Feb. 21
Feb 21, 2008
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Lawmakers To Tackle Insurance Once Again
Advisers warn weak financial markets may harm any plan.
Still miffed that their gamble to reduce out-of-control insurance premiums largely failed last year, Florida lawmakers are about to debate another roll of the dice.
One hurricane away from ‘largest tax hike’
Worried that it couldn’t pay for a big hit, state may reduce its fund that aids insurers
This is the first in a series of stories looking at major issues facing the Florida Legislature, which convenes its annual session March 4.
Citizens Leaves Independents at the Altar
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Florida ’s largest insurer and government-funded insurer of last resort, has cancelled its request for proposals for claim administration services for daily claims.
OPINION: Straight talk on property coverage
Headlines and reports of government leaders and oversight agencies battling the insurance industry, insurance companies on trial for alleged conspiracy and withholding documents, allegations of massive profits by private companies and profiteering on the backs of Floridians – what the heck is really going on? Well, here’s some straight talk on property insurance in Florida.
6 Fla. Workers’ Comp Cos. Ordered to Refund ‘Excess’ Profits
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has ordered six workers’ compensation insurance companies to return $4.2 million in what his agency says are excessive profits to their policyholders.
Gov. Crist signs executive order, gives Fla. ‘HOPE’
Task force to offer recommendations for easing sub-prime mortgage problem
Gov. Charlie Crist created a special task force of financial experts and consumer advocates Wednesday for a quick study of Florida’s mortgage market.
Florida’s court budget faces big hit in Legislature
Becky Bichard has been assisting judges for 14years and doesn’t want to have to get a second job.
Campbell leads in spending, fundraising
Campaign finance reports show Republican Sean Campbell with a commanding fundraising advantage heading into Tuesday’s special election for Florida House District 32.
3 with varied viewpoints vie for Bob Allen’s House seat
All three candidates hoping to replace state Rep. Bob Allen in House District 32 said they were encouraged to run.
House wants to expand Amendment 1; Senate shows little enthusiasm
Tax cutting is back on the agenda in the Florida House, less than a month after voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1 and its promise of a five-year, $9.3 billion property tax break.
Ethics panel slams S. Florida water managers on spending
South Florida water managers were “put on notice” Wednesday by state senators to stop staying at lavish resorts for meetings and taking flights short distances at taxpayers’ expense.
Senate to prioritize claim for wrongly jailed man
After spending 24 years in prison for two rapes he didn’t commit, Alan Crotzer will likely win $1.25 million in state compensation now that the leader of the Florida Senate announced Wednesday that the case will be ”a priority of the Senate.”
Florida Legislator Concludes 3rd Military Tour Of Duty
Dressed in sand-colored fatigues and flashing a weary grin, state Rep. Michael Scionti marched through Gate E75 of Tampa International Airport, the last leg of a journey that took him away from the mountains of Afghanistan and back into the embraces of his loved ones.
States act to protect individual health insurance coverage
Lawmakers in several states are limiting insurers’ ability to cancel health policies for consumers who buy their own coverage.
Probe: FEMA misdirected $13M in disaster aid
The Federal Emergency Management Agency took money from the sale of used travel trailers and inappropriately used it to buy $13 million worth of SUVs, global positioning systems and other items, according to a new government probe.
IRS Withdraws Proposed Captive Regulation
The Internal Revenue Service announced it has withdrawn a proposed regulation that if enacted could have driven captive insurance formations offshore, according to captive experts.
Allstate to restore coverage for Louisiana homeowners
Allstate Corp. will restore insurance coverage for hundreds of customers and pay $250,000 to resolve disputes over cancellation of south Louisiana homeowner policies after Hurricane Katrina, the company said Wednesday.
E-mail May Scuttle Truce Between State Farm, Miss. Attorney General
With the press of a button, a lawyer for the nation’s largest insurance company may have ended a brief truce in its bitter dispute with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.
Multi-State Study Examines Workers’ Comp Programs
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), an independent, not-for-profit research organization that provides information about public policy issues involving workers’ compensation systems, has released the eighth edition of its CompScope report.
La. congressman’s appeal to delay trial
The trial of a Louisiana congressman charged with bribery will be delayed so an appeals court can hear arguments on whether his status as a congressman protects him from prosecution.
Underwriters Win First Round Before High Court On Levee Cases
In the first of the Katrina flood cases to hit the Supreme Court, the court declined to review a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the flood exclusion in homeowners policies issued by Allstate and Travelers.
Katrina Lawyer Scruggs Faces Hearings in Miss. Judicial Bribery Case
A motions hearing took place this week in the highest profile judicial bribery trial in Mississippi in years.
N.Y. Says Insurer’s Bad Faith Can Lead To Added Claims
An insured can assert a claim against an insurer for certain additional losses when the insurer acts in bad faith and contributes to the policyholder’s additional loss despite a policy exclusion of such damages from coverage, according to a New York State Court of Appeals decision.
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