Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, March 5
Mar 5, 2009
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Florida Bills Would Shift Hurricane Risk To State
Similar bills introduced in both houses of the Florida Legislature would shift coverage for hurricanes from private insurers to the state-a move that two industry organizations find objectionable.
Florida Red Light Camera Bill Gets Green Light
A House panel has given the green light to a bill that would set requirements for the use of automatic cameras to fine owners of vehicles that run red lights.
Measure approved to consider sinkholes in taxes
A bill that would allow local governments to reduce property insurance rates for sinkhole mitigation is moving in the Legislature.
Dry conditions have officials concerned of increased brush fire risk
Golden Gate Estates residents who thought the 800-acre inferno that destroyed three homes and threatened hundreds more last summer was bad, well, hold on to your britches.
Powerful Florida Senator Fighting Merger Of Health Agencies
Last year, Senator Durell Peaden was Governor Charlie Crist’s health-care point man. He was primary sponsor of the Cover Florida Health plan and helped the governor in other ways.
Florida Lawmakers Choose Seat Belts Over Budget Cuts
The lure of federal money may make the difference for a seat belt enforcement bill in the Florida Legislature after years of frustration.
EDITORIAL: Tighten seat belt law in Florida
Seat belts save lives, and Florida law already requires people to buckle up. But officers can ticket drivers for failing to wear seat belts only if they pull them over for another violation first. That should change.
Attorney General, Agency for Workforce Innovation Warn Floridians About Unemployment Claims Scams
Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) Interim Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo on Thursday issued a joint consumer advisory warning Floridians to be wary of companies offering to file unemployment compensation claims for a fee.
CVS Caremark May be Violating Privacy of Hundreds of Thousands of Floridians, According to CtW
CVS Caremark Could Put State of Florida, Office Depot, Miami Herald, Other Plan Participants’ Patient, Prescription Data Up For Sale TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–(Business Wire)– Privacy advocates are launching a public awareness campaign today in Tallahassee, sounding the alarm that CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefit manager, could be putting the patient information and prescription drug history of state employees up for sale.
Care Providers Worry Over Cuts For Medicaid in Florida
A showdown over how Florida’s Medicaid reform program pays for treating the poor has thrust the heads of four First Coast health departments into the unusual role of state policy opponents.
Ascension Insurance Acquires Fort Lauderdale-based Dennis Bartlett Agency
Ascension Insurance, Inc. has announced the acquisition of the Dennis Bartlett agency of Fort Lauderdale, effective January 16, 2009.
Broward Senator Rich To Take Reins As Florida Senate Minority Leader
With a pair of leading Republicans looking on in a show of bipartisanship, Senate Democrats formally designated Broward County Sen. Nan Rich as their minority leader Wednesday for the 2010-11 legislative term.
Marco Rubio Quietly Registers To Run For U.S. Senate
Typically, a person who decides to run for public office sends out a press release and makes an announcement in front of as many television cameras as can be persuaded to show up.
Sink: Florida not doing enough to get federal grants
Florida’s chief financial officer said Wednesday the state isn’t doing enough to get its share of federal grant money.
CFO Receives Top National Honor For Volunteerism From Junior Achievement
The Junior Achievement (JA) U.S. Business Hall of Fame announced Thursday that Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has received their prestigious Gold Leadership Award.
Florida Lawmakers Won’t OK Current Seminole Gambling Compact
Legislators want to protect non-Indian gambling ventures
Florida lawmakers put supporters of Governor Charlie Crist’s Seminole gambling compact on notice Wednesday: A deal won’t come easily this year – if it comes at all.
Senate Fights Over State‘s Commuter Rail
The fate of a Central Florida commuter rail project could come down to one magic number: 21.
Report May Rein In State Blackberry Use
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush loved his Blackberry so much he had it painted into his official state portrait, but a new report shows the state’s love affair with wireless devices may have gotten out of hand.
Vice President Visits Miami, Pushes Transit Funds
Vice President Joe Biden is in Miami Thursday and Friday for a series of events that include a speech to labor union officials and a visit to a rental car and transit hub under construction near Miami International Airport, where he will highlight President Obama’s stimulus aid for transportation projects.
New Estimate Raises Florida Stimulus To $13.4 Billion
A new estimate Wednesday indicated Florida will get more federal stimulus money than previously anticipated but less of it that can be used in the state budget.
Human Smuggling Bill Moves Forward
A proposal to punish human smugglers who ply Florida’s waters sailed through a Senate committee Wednesday.
‘Rachel’s Law,’ Named For Confidential Informant, Gets Second Look
Police agencies, FDLE offer compromise measure
A last-minute deal with the state’s most powerful law-enforcement agencies may rescue a bill known as “Rachel’s Law” that sought to tighten oversight of confidential informants.
Former CEO Greenberg Sues AIG Over $2 Billion In Stock Losses
American International Group’s former chairman and chief executive officer, Maurice Greenberg, is suing his old company, charging that excessive speculation in risky derivatives and lack of disclosure after he left caused him to lose money in stock purchased on his behalf in deferred compensation plans.
Multi-Peril Bill Reintroduced; Industry Opposed
A Mississippi congressman on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that would add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program-something the industry said is already widely available in the private sector and would be unnecessarily costly to taxpayers.
USAA Sues Web Lead Site For Steering Customers
USAA said it is suing USInsuranceOnline.com for steering customers away from USAA by pretending to represent the company.
Crackdown On Doctors Who Take Kickbacks
Federal health officials and prosecutors, frustrated that they have been unable to stop illegal kickbacks to doctors from drug and device companies, are investigating doctors who take money for using these products.
Insurers: Fear Growing Among Policyholders
The life insurance industry is weakening, and policyholders around the country are calling their agents to ask the same question: Is my policy safe?
Underwriters Laboratories Publishes First Safety Standard for Portable Generators
Underwriters Laboratories, an independent product safety certification and leading standards development organization, today announced the publication of UL 2201, a Standard for Portable Engine-Generator Assemblies. Prior to this standard, there was no voluntary safety standard for portable generators sold in the United States.
Travel Insurance is Worthwhile Hedge Against Potential Job Loss
In today’s economic climate, travelers hesitating to pull the trigger on making early reservations can take comfort in what travel experts say could be the most compelling reason to invest in travel insurance – a recovery of the lost trip costs should they lose their job and have to cancel the trip.
NJ insurance workers’ policy of pooling together lottery ticket money wins them $216M
Robert Space got into work at the Chubb Insurance company at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, realized the lottery ticket he was holding matched the winning numbers, and fired off a one-line e-mail to his nine co-workers who had pitched in to buy it.
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