Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, July 10
Jul 10, 2008
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House Panel Okays 3 Insurance Measures
A House Financial Services Subcommittee approved three bills yesterday aimed at improving the insurance regulatory system and increasing the availability of coverage through risk retention groups.
Get insider’s look at hurricane trends
Some scientific lectures have better show-and-tell than others.
Tim LaRow of FSU’S Center for Oceanic-Atmospheric Studies has the perfect visual in Bertha, the first named hurricane of the season, which currently is churning through the waters of the mid-Atlantic.
EDITORIAL:Â Insurers too gung-ho on global warming
Rate Models Overstate Climate Change’s Current Effects
Granted, it took more than two strikes, but the state of Florida appears to have finally learned its lesson when it comes to dealing with windstorm insurers and the catastrophe models they use to determine rates.
COLUMN:Â Pay Buffett now for chance to pay him later
You and I — let’s call us “schmoes” — will now be paying $224-million to Warren Buffett — let’s call him “one of the richest guys in the world.”
1994 Honda Accord most stolen car in Florida, report says
A 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen car last year in the United States, according to a study released today.
Skip Campbell calls rumors he’s pulled out of Senate race ‘totally bunk’
Former state Sen. Skip Campbell said Wednesday that rumors that he has decided not to run for the Florida Senate are ‘totally bunk.’ He said he might indeed stay in the race for Senate District 25 against incumbent Sen. Jeff Atwater, R- North Palm Beach.
Blackjack still on at Hard Rock, for now
An attempt by a Pompano Beach casino to stop the Seminoles from offering blackjack and baccarat at the tribe’s casino has been rejected by a judge.
A federal judge refused a Pompano Beach casino’s effort to stop the Seminole Tribe from offering high-stakes blackjack and baccarat, saying the tribe is immune from such lawsuits.
Health coverage to include more working poor
A little-known source of cheap health-care coverage got a big boost Wednesday from the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.
Scrutinize state’s new no-frills health plan bids to prevent consumer rip-off
Good for Florida labor and civic groups that began a campaign Tuesday in Tallahassee to put universal health care on the radar screen in the presidential and congressional races.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:Â Universal health coverage within reach
We feel that one of the prominent issues to be discussed among many in the presidential elections should be our health-care system. The only real solution is a universal, single-payer system.
Broward activist launches bid for top seat
Linda Bird, a longtime Broward activist and real-estate agent, plans to replace Skip Campbell in the Democrats’ bid to knock off the incoming state Senate president in the most high-stakes legislative race in Florida.
King drops out of House race after his honesty is questioned
For a week, Land O’Lakes Republican Jim King contemplated abandoning his campaign against U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite after he suffered a serious back injury.
Garcia to challenge Diaz-Balart congressional seat
Health care and education for children, help with failing mortgages, better Medicaid for seniors and intelligent communication with countries with which we haven’t seen eye-to-eye.
Pruitt’s introduction of tax swap amendment opponent in Palm City won’t be an endorsement
State Sen. President Ken Pruitt is introducing one of the most outspoken opponents of the tax swap amendment before a speech in Palm City on July 23.
Lawmaker: Central Fla. Has Role in Drilling Debate
Central Florida’s lawmakers could end up playing a critical role in deciding whether to allow drilling off the state’s coast, one local representative predicted.
Water managers question Everglades cleanup standard
In the midst of pushing for a $1.75 billion land deal to boost Everglades restoration, South Florida water managers on Wednesday suggested lessening the cleanup requirement that guides work to fix the River of Grass.
Some are fearful about MIDAS’ effect on people, environment
A touchy new fumigant has been approved for use in Florida.
Wondering how much you’ll pay for Progress Energy’s $17-billion nuclear plant? Sorry, that’s confidential.
Deportations on the rise in Florida
Deportations in Florida jump by almost 50 percent, setting a pace that likely will surpass last year’s total and exceed a 10-year high mark.
Federal immigration authorities deported 5,889 illegal immigrants in the first six months of 2008 to their home countries, including Colombia, Haiti, Jamaica and the Philippines.
NAIC Offers Views on Three Insurance Bills at Subcommittee Mark-Up
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) President and Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger sent letters to Reps. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) and Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio), the chair and ranking member of the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, regarding three insurance bills marked up by the Subcommittee today:
Research Model Helps Gauge Storms’ Intensity with Climate Change
A new mathematical model indicates that dust devils, water spouts, tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones are all born of the same mechanism and will intensify as climate change warms the Earth’s surface.
Travelers Supports Targeted Insurance Regulatory Reform Bills Passed by House Committee
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) today announced its support for two important pieces of legislation passed today by the Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee.
Factor In Environment Issues, Says Actuary
Actuaries need to strategize how to manage risks dealing with environmental and social justice issues while setting premiums and loss reserves, according to an actuarial expert.
States Focus on Uninsured Workers at Small Firms
As the number of people without health insurance continues to rise, many states and Congress have begun to focus on one of the biggest causes: the growing number of small business owners and their workers who are unable to afford coverage.
Findings on Katrina Trailers Went Undisclosed
A leading U.S. trailer manufacturer failed to disclose to Hurricane Katrina evacuees or the government its internal findings that formaldehyde in some units exceeded a federal health standard by as much as 45 times in 2006, its chairman acknowledged to Congress yesterday.
CALIFORNIA:Â Allstate to slash homeowner insurance rates 28.5%
The state-ordered reduction will save more than 850,000 customers about $250 each.
Allstate Corp. the state’s third-biggest home insurer, must slash its annual premiums by more than one-quarter, saving more than 850,000 customers about $250 apiece.
NEW YORK:Â Judge Rules On Self Insured Comp Trust Assessments
A judge has ruled that New York officials must create a factual record of need before they levy a special assessment against employer groups that self insure for workers’ compensation claims.
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