Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, Nov. 15

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Federal disaster insurance program wins House approval

Responding to a bipartisan clamor from Florida lawmakers over the skyrocketing cost of homeowners’ insurance, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a sweeping plan Thursday to create a federal natural disaster program.

 

Florida’s budgetary woes reach a new low

Florida’s budget chasm opened to historic depths Wednesday as economists downgraded anticipated tax collections $2.5 billion over two years.

 

More property tax cuts may be coming

TALLAHASSEE – Tax-cut fever has been a dream come true for property owners and a living nightmare for local governments.

 

State insurance regulators settle discrimination case

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation joined the states of Texas, Georgia, California and Ohio in reaching a settlement with Americo Life Inc.

 

Sink proposes climate initiatives

CFO pushes for ‘strong clean-energy market’

State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced Wednesday new financial initiatives that she says will help Florida financially prepare for the threat of climate change.

 

Max Planck Society advances toward state’s approval

JUPITER — The $190 million proposal to bring the Max Planck Society to Jupiter has moved one step closer to approval, an economic development official said Wednesday.

 

OSHA Taps Employers for Safety Gear Cost

WASHINGTON — Employers will have to pay the full cost for almost all personal safety equipment used by their workers, the Labor Department said Wednesday, a move advocates say will prevent thousands of on-the-job injuries.

 

Water chief urges tighter limits on usage

Water district managers painted an ever-grimmer portrait of the region’s drought Wednesday, recommending stiffer restrictions on residential water use and a series of actions to make the most of a system that has plumbed record-low water levels for 155 days in a row.

 

Hurricane Katrina boosted greenhouse gases-report

Hurricane Katrina left a big ‘carbon footprint’ along the U.S. Gulf Coast, where the destruction of large trees cut into the amount of greenhouse gases the area can absorb, researchers reported on Thursday.

 

Our view: Sand dollars
 
Local officials scrambling to find money to rebuild dunes eroded on barrier islands may float the idea of a special sand tax that would impact all Space Coast residents, even those living inland.

 

Cheery Charlie: Better turn off lampshade talk

For someone who has thrived on good luck, can Charlie Crist survive long without it? Because now his luck, or more accurately his timing, couldn’t be worse.

 

FAU starts homework on Brogan pact

Florida Atlantic University trustees will begin negotiating a new contract with President Frank Brogan, agreeing Wednesday to look for a consulting firm for advice on what is offered at comparable schools.

 

Could Web Communities Replace Insurers?

WASHINGTON —Techies with an affinity for creating Web-based networking communities could soon replace insurance companies, especially those that are secretive about their pricing models for hard-to-place specialty risks, two technology experts suggested last week.

 

AIR Releases Updated Version of U.S. Terrorism Model

AIR Worldwide Corporation has released an updated version of its U.S. Terrorism Model, which is available in Version 9.5 of its catastrophe risk management systems.

 

State Rep. Allen avoid jail, gets 6 months probation

VIERA, Fla. — State Rep. Bob Allen was sentenced Thursday to six months of probation for agreeing to pay for oral sex with an undercover officer in a men’s park restroom.

 

Experts: $20M to fix mental-health system

Florida’s fragmented and much maligned mental-health and substance-abuse-treatment system could be put on the road to permanent recovery for as little as $20 million next year.

 

How safe is your car? Ford, Honda lead list of insurance industry’s safest vehicles

WASHINGTON — The number of new cars considered the safest by the insurance industry nearly tripled in the past year, helped by automakers’ push to make certain safety equipment more widely available.

 

Automakers move ahead on alternative fuel vehicles

Coming soon to a freeway — or driveway — near you: cars that don’t need gasoline.