Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, July 19

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State Farm to drop 50,000 coastal homeowners policies in Fla.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State Farm Insurance, Florida’s largest private home insurer, said Thursday it will drop about 50,000 homeowners policies next year in what it considers risky areas along the coast.

 

Federal administrator tells Congress why Proenza ousted

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center were scared of Bill Proenza, felt he muzzled their views and feared he would retaliate against them if they took their concerns to upper management, a top federal official told a joint hearing of two congressional committees Thursday.

 

Florida officials rush to find a fix for PIP law

To get a full understanding of how Florida drivers would be affected if the state’s no-fault auto insurance law expires in October, Florida CFO Alex Sink has spent several weeks analyzing the impact of the pending change.

 

Reset Provision Stirs New TRIA Debate

WASHINGTON —Lawmakers pushing for legislative language providing incentives for insurers to cover terrorism in prime target areas will see how the concept fares next week when a committee meets to set the final form of the Terrorism Risk Insurance and Extension Act of 2007.

 

Miami, Lauderdale lose on terror funds

Miami and Fort Lauderdale took a significant hit in the latest round of federal antiterrorism grants, prompting grumbling from the region’s congressional delegation.

 

Feds make busts in $75 million oil scheme

Home heating trucks firms shorted customers
 
By rigging the meters on heating-oil trucks, two oil companies shorted their customers on Long Island and in New York City out of millions of gallons and resold the oil on the black market for $75 million in cash, according to federal officials and sources.

 

Associations weigh insurance options

Don’t count your insurance savings just yet, experts warn owners in condo, co-op and homeowner association communities.

 

La. Governor Vetoes New Auto Cover Requirements

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco vetoed a measure opposed by insurers that would have more than doubled the state’s required minimum auto insurance coverage limits.

 

Poll: Crist more popular with voters than some of his issues

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — While many Florida voters don’t think enough has been done to bring down their property taxes or insurance premiums, more than 70 percent say Gov. Charlie Crist has done a good job during his first six months in office, a new poll shows.

 

Gov. Crist Signs Drunken Driving Bill

ST. PETERSBURG – Anyone convicted of drunken driving for the first time will have to carry significantly greater car insurance coverage under a bill Gov. Charlie Crist signed in a ceremony in front of the St. Petersburg Police Department today.

 

Hurricane Inspection ‘Useless’ To Some

TAMPA – Thousands of Florida homeowners signed up for the My Safe Florida Home program hoping to receive grant money to help fortify their houses against a hurricane.

 

FEMA slow to test toxicity of trailers

Lawyers for the government’s disaster relief agency discouraged officials from pursuing reports that trailers housing hurricane victims had dangerous levels of formaldehyde, according to documents released Thursday.

 

Pembroke Pines: Fire Department earns Class One rating in review

The city’s fire department was recently awarded the Class One fire rating after review by the Insurance Services Organization.

 

Fertility Method May Be Overused

ATLANTA – Fertility clinics are overusing a laboratory technique and costing infertile couples and some insurers hundreds of extra dollars, a new study suggests.

 

Lawmaker to receive honorary doctorate

State Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, D-Miami, will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters during Florida Memorial University’s summer commencement exercises Saturday.

 

Editorial:  Lawmakers should extend “No Fault” law for one year
 
After Oct. 1, Floridians will no longer be bound by the state’s long-standing “No Fault” law, which requires motorists to carry $10,000 worth of mandatory Personal Injury Protection insurance in exchange for the right to use the public highways. On that day, No-Fault “sunsets” and motorists will be perfectly free to “go bare” when they drive.

 

Regulators Testifiy before Congress in Support of All-Perils Policy

Speaking before a key subcommitee of the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday, Sandy Praeger, president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and Kansas Insurance Commissioner, testified on the merits of all-perils insurance coverage. Commissioner Praeger commended the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity for holding the hearing and thanked Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) for raising the issue of improving the coverage offered to consumers.

 

Bush vows to veto children’s health insurance bill

Measure would raise excise tax on cigarettes

LANDOVER, Md. — President Bush yesterday reiterated his threat to veto Senate legislation that would substantially increase funds for children’s health insurance by levying a 61-cents-a-pack increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.

 

Bond Insurers’ Stocks Hit by Uncertainty

CHICAGO — Subprime borrowers are having growing problems making their mortgage payments, and there has been evidence of outright fraud in some low-documentation loans.

 

Weathering a Storm of Red Tape

‘Persistent Fella’ Having Home Rebuilt Years After Isabel

Stanley Carpenter has waited 3 1/2 years to see his home — the one Hurricane Isabel drove a 40-foot wooden pole through — rebuilt stronger, higher and out of the reach of floodwaters.

 

State increasing penalties for environmental rule breakers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Penalties will be increased for major environmental violations in an attempt to stop companies from thinking of low fines as simply a cost of doing business, the state’s top environmental official said Wednesday.