Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, January 15
Jan 15, 2009
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S&P: Florida Hurricane Fund, Citizens’ Guaranty Fund Ratings to Negative
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services revised the outlook to negative from stable on Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (AA-), Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (A+), and Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (preliminary rating ‘A-‘) following the outlook revision on Florida’s ‘AAA’ long-term rating to negative from stable.
Citizens policyholders may see rates jump by 20 percent next year
Treasure Coast residents insured by state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could see their rates increase by 20 percent in 2010.
OPINION: Low rates for workers compensation may end
Businesses are finding it harder and harder to find ways to cut expenses. Thank goodness workers compensation rates are lower than they have ever been.
Where will FL get matching funds for kids’ coverage?
Congress is poised to extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Florida, which has more than 800,000 uninsured children, needs to find matching funds to get its share.
Two Democrats from the state have pitched a solution to the incoming administration, but since it would give a break only to some states, it’s unclear whether it will fly.
National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Cornyn Says GOP Talking to Crist About Senate Run
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) on Wednesday said efforts are ongoing to persuade Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) to run for his state’s open Senate seat.
State may pay more if it needs to borrow
Florida’s bond rating may be cut by Standard & Poor’s because the housing-market collapse stopped the state’s growth, curtailed tax income and made it harder to balance the budget.
State deficit reversed, but what is ahead?
Slashing hundreds of millions of dollars from schools and betting heavily on help from Barack Obama, state lawmakers removed a $2.3 billion budget deficit Wednesday with warnings that the worst was yet to come.
Crist sees room to ease sting of cuts
Gov. Charlie Crist said he would restore “compassion” to the state budget when considering $2.8 billion in adjustments a divided Florida Legislature approved Wednesday.
Fla. Legislature passes $10M business loan measure
At least 34 Florida businesses would be eligible to obtain low-interest loans from the state to help them expand under a bill lawmakers passed Wednesday.
Miami One of Five Cities in the Nation to Receive HUD Lifeline
Federal housing officials chose Miami and five other cities to launch a foreclosure prevention campaign, complete with a hot line, and warned home owners to watch out for ‘rescue’ scams.
If you haven’t already, federal housing officials think it is a good time to dig out your mortgage documents and give them a good once-over.
Children’s health debate moves to Senate
Efforts to increase federal spending on children’s health insurance moved to the Senate after the House overwhelming approved an additional $32.3 billion for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Dallas Uninsured Auto Impounding Draws A Caution From Trades
The city of Dallas’ new program to tow and impound the cars of uninsured drivers is being greeted with caution by insurance trade organization representatives, who caution against red-tape foul-ups.
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