Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, May 8

 

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Senate defeats federal wind coverage

A Gulf Coast-backed effort to add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program was soundly defeated Wednesday in the Senate amid concerns it would be too costly.

FDLE unveils terror-alert system for businesses

Businesses will be able to get real-time domestic terrorism alerts through a new electronic messaging system announced Wednesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Lean budget prods lawmakers to trim pork ahead of Crist

Last year, Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a record $459 million from the state’s $71 billion budget, axing projects from mentoring programs to rodeo complexes.

As water education lags, Fla. leads in boat deaths

Boating deaths jumped 10 percent in Florida last year, marking the 16th year in 20 that the Sunshine State has led the nation in fatalities.

Despite lack of hurricanes, don’t forget flood coverage

After making it scot-free through the past three hurricane seasons, most Volusia-Flagler residents are playing the odds they can survive yet another storm period without any flood damage.

Give your hurricane insurance a checkup

Hurricane season–and it’s once again predicted to be above average — begins June 1.

EDITORIAL: Voters Hungry For Tax Reform Are Offered A Pig In A Poke

Voters can’t be sure what they’ll get if in November they approve the major reform offered by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

Atwater aide removed from payroll

The chief of staff in training for de facto Senate President Jeff Atwater is officially off the payroll, Atwater said Wednesday.

Florida takes $10 million from condo trust fund

Group: Money should have gone to help owners

Almost one-third of the money designated for programs to help educate condo owners and pay for enforcement of condo laws will be diverted for unrelated state expenses as a result of the current budget crunch.

Both sides may appeal Fla. citrus canker decision over money

Both sides got a taste of victory and defeat in the legal battle over the value of thousands of residential citrus trees destroyed in an attempt to eradicate canker disease.

State Insurance Regulators Fine Conseco

Multi-State Examination Finds Serious Long-Term Care Violations

State insurance regulators, working together through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), today announced the details of a regulatory settlement agreement between 40 jurisdictions and Conseco, Inc., due to a pattern of consumer harm in the company’s long-term care insurance business.

Louisiana Citizens Insurance Begins Transferring Homeowners Policies

The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-sponsored insurer of last resort, will be nearly its pre-Hurricane Katrina size after responsibility for 30,000 homeowner policies is transferred to private insurers.

House Panel Approves Changes to Louisiana Building Codes

A Louisiana House committee has approved changes to the statewide building code, including a provision aimed at easing the construction inspection process in north Louisiana.

OP-ED: Government Makes Disasters More Disastrous

In a recent speech from New Orleans, Republican presidential candidate John McCain lashed out at the Bush administration for its response to Hurricane Katrina.

Appeasing the Gods, With Insurance

Suppose you’re preparing to travel by air. Which of these precautions do you think is most likely to prevent your plane from crashing?

Q&A with Mike Leavitt (full transcript)

In 2004, President Bush introduced a sweeping initiative to promote the development of a nationwide system of health information technology.

 

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