Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, February 12
Feb 12, 2009
Above: Florida Governor Charlie Crist held a Civil Rights Roundtable discussion this morning honoring the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s 100th anniversary and the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Governor Crist met with Florida’s African-American community leaders, including Adora Obi Nweze (center, with hat), whom he appointed as Special Advisor to the Governor on Minority Affairs today.
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U.S. Rep. Rooney introduces national tax-deferred emergency reserve bill for insurance companies
Congressman Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, introduced legislation Wednesday that would create a national tax-deferred reserve to allow insurance companies to set aside money for future disasters.
Crist presses president for catastrophe fund
Gov. Charlie Crist used his joint appearance with President Barack Obama on Tuesday in Fort Myers to personally lobby the president for the creation of a national catastrophe fund that could help states like Florida that are prone to hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Don’t Give Up Your State Farm Policy Yet, Say Finance Advisors
A Florida trade group called yesterday for halt in what it said were efforts to create paranoia and make property owners shift home insurers.
State Farm agents are anxious about what happens next
They face a fuzzy future after the company’s Florida declaration.
State Farm agent Craig Dewhurst describes the mood of his fellow agents by recalling the upheaval of 1992 when Hurricane Andrew slammed South Florida.
City of Bradenton may charge for traffic accidents
In the future, you may receive a bill for a service fee when Bradenton Police have to direct traffic because you caused a vehicle crash.
CFO Sink joins detectives for insurance fraud arrest in Tampa
The arrest is part of a week-long operation seeking restitution on more than $3.5 million in insurance losses
Today, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink joined detectives from the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud for the arrest of a woman accused of forging insurance documents in order to collect more than $38,000 in school readiness state funding.
BLOG: Does Florida insurance law violate free speech rules?
A Florida law that makes it illegal for insurance companies and agents to mention the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association may violate free speech laws.
FIGA kicks in when an insurer folds to handle claims and pay up to $500,000 for certain claims.
Chinese drywall is quietly removed from houses
One neighborhood hit hardest by the Chinese drywall phenomenon — Montauk Point Crossing in Heritage Harbour — is now the scene of a half-dozen houses being gutted by Lennar Corp.
ACTION LINE: How can I assess home insurer’s reliability?
Q. I currently have my homeowners insurance with Citizens Property Insurance. I have been offered to leave Citizens for Landmark One. My agent knows nothing about this company’s reliability.
Lawson to take on Boyd for US House seat
Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson, who is facing a term-limited retirement, wants to go to Washington. Lawson, an insurance agent who has represented Tallahassee in the Legislature since 1982, said today he intends next year to take on Congressman Allen Boyd, a Democrat from Monticello.
McCollum endorses lawmakers’ financial-fraud bill
Citing sensational recent fraud cases, two southwest Florida legislators and Attorney General Bill McCollum on Wednesday called for better licensing scrutiny of investment advisers and state-level prosecution of big fraud cases.
Governor Crist Names Adora Obi Nweze Special Advisor on Minority Affairs
Civil rights roundtable explores strategies to reach Florida’s diverse population
On the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Governor Charlie Crist today called on Adora Obi Nweze of Miami to serve as Special Advisor to the Governor on Minority Affairs.
GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST: One President’s Lasting Reminder
Today we mark the bicentennial of the birth of one our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln. Known by many as the Great Emancipator, he embodies the greatness of America even though he did not live to see the passage of the 13th Amendment to end slavery.
Florida GOP official wants to reclaim her post
The chairman of the Republican Party of Florida said a party leader can’t take back her resignation over a controversial e-mail.
A longtime Republican leader in Hillsborough County is trying to get her party post back, nearly one week after she resigned over a racially charged e-mail referring to President Barack Obama’s inauguration and Hurricane Katrina.
Congressional panel told drilling in gulf off Florida too big of a risk
D.T. Minich, executive director of the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday that drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is not worth the risk to the environment and the area’s economy.
Seminole bed ‘taxes’ don’t go to state
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is charging visitors for a state bed “tax” at its Hard Rock properties but doesn’t send the money to the state.
Florida Senate poll shows Crist annihilating field
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) looms hugely over his state’s open Senate race, holding 2-to-1 leads over all Democrats interested in the race, according to a new Strategic Vision poll.
Sales tax changes may prove tough
Floridians could pay more for bottled water, eyeglasses, Super Bowl tickets and other items if lawmakers decide to remove some of the 239 sales tax exemptions to help shore up a third consecutive year of budget shortfalls.
Water district and firm must adopt standards
Farming on land intended for Everglades restoration remains a sticking point in the state’s $1.34 billion deal with U.S. Sugar Corp.
Plans For U.S. Insurance Regulation Bill Unveiled
Two members of the House said today they will introduce revised legislation that would lead to creation of a federal office of insurance regulation.
Consumer Group Attack OFC Concept
Insurance regulation should remain with the states, and switching to an optional federal insurance charter (OFC) would be tantamount to deregulation, according to a letter sent yesterday to the Treasury Department by a consumer advocacy group.
Surplus Lines Reform Legislation Reintroduced in Congress
Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services have announced plans they will introduce legislation that will create national standards for how states regulate the surplus lines market and reinsurance as well as a uniform system of surplus lines premium tax allocation and remittance.
Mississippi Rejects 6 Insurers’ Appeals of Windpool Assessments
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has upheld the efforts of the state’s wind insurance pool to collect millions of dollars in past assessments from six insurance companies.
UK Fraud Unit Probing AIG Financial Products
The UK Serious Fraud Office announced that it had launched a preliminary inquiry today into the UK operations of American International Group’s AIG Financial Products Corp. subsidiary.
PCI Educates Lawmakers on the Value, Benefits of Credit-Based Insurance Scoring
As legislation related to credit-based insurance scoring begins to appear nationwide, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) is working to clarify the practice and educate legislators on this critical issue for consumers and insurers.
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