Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, October 21
Oct 21, 2010
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Lawsuit accuses Citizens Property Insurance of wrongfully using no-bid contracts
A class action lawsuit filed in Tallahassee on Thursday alleges that wrongful use of no-bid contracts by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has led to excessive costs and higher rates for the state-run insurer’s policyholders.
Blog: Should Florida create a fourth state insurance program?
Should Florida create a fourth state-run insurance entity to cover sinkhole risks?
Blog: Citizens plans more home inspections to reduce insurance discounts
A Citizens Property Insurance committee met today to discuss inspections it plans to do next year to see if policyholders’ hurricane-proofing discounts are too high.
State reinsurer remains in good shape at end of hurricane season
A new round of estimates for the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund conclude that the state-created reinsurer remains on solid financial footing with a little more than a month left in the 2010 hurricane season.
In the midst of hurricane season, there is a storm brewing in D.C. that threatens to affect insurance rates for all Floridians.
Woman files complaint accusing Rader of not disclosing interest in insurance group
A South Florida Tea Party member alleged in an ethics complaint Wednesday that Democratic state Senate candidate and insurance agent Kevin Rader failed to indicate his ownership interest in an underwriters group on required financial disclosure forms.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty to be 2011 NAIC President-Elect
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty will serve as 2011 National Association of Insurance Commissioners President-Elect, as determined by an election of NAIC officers at the organization’s Fall 2010 National Meeting today, October 21, 2010
Insurance chiefs vote against industry
Florida Insurance Commissioner backs amendment to exclude agent commissions from spending formula
Insurance regulators today approved controversial rules governing how much insurers must spend on patients’ medical care – without adopting last-minute amendments that some consumer advocates opposed.
South Florida health care operators charged in massive Medicare fraud case
Federal agents arrested several South Florida health care operators early Thursday in one of the nation’s biggest Medicare fraud cases, charging them with scheming to fleece $200 million from the taxpayer-funded program by billing for bogus mental health services.
Many Florida pain clinics claim exemption
Florida has more than 80 licensed pain clinics that are not owned by physicians, despite a widespread impression that the Legislature required such ownership in a law that took effect Oct. 1. Counting pending applications, the total will soon be more than 100.
GOP must appoint District 12 replacement for Norman
The state Division of Elections this morning notified the Republican Party of Florida that the party is to choose a nominee for the state Senate District 12 seat.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Scott-Sink debate turns into TV firefight
Rick Scott repeatedly tried to tie rival Alex Sink to President Obama’s health care and spending policies while the Democrat fired back, warning that Floridians could not trust the Republican nominee as the gubernatorial candidates met for the first time Wednesday before a statewide television audience.
- Rick Scott, Alex Sink cover new ground on the issues during second debate
- Scott, Sink diss taxes in debate
Legal case aims to untangle state House candidate’s finances
Inspired by Jim Norman’s day in court, the vice chairman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party is suing state House candidate James Grant over a $40,000 loan Grant made to his own campaign.
Florida attorney general investigating 5 for-profit universities
Adding more scrutiny to an embattled industry, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has begun investigating allegations of deceptive practices at five for-profit higher education companies.
Charlie Crist Party Switch Could Bring Campaign Law Change
Lawmakers could look at changes next year to make it more difficult for political candidates to switch parties midcampaign, a proposal directly in response to Gov. Charlie Crist’s defection from the Republican Party this past year.
Blog: Crist has blown through his millions, running on fumes
Charlie Crist’s once sizable financial advantage has collapsed, the potential for him to finish up the campaign with a massive TV buy gone.
West Winning Wild CD 22 Race, Poll Shows
Republican Allen West narrowly leads U.S. Rep. Ron Klein in a bruising battle for South Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, a new Sunshine State News Poll shows..
Clinton campaigns with Democrat Sink in Miami
Former President Bill Clinton said Thursday that Republican Rick Scott’s campaign for governor was resorting to name-calling and scare tactics, instead of planning for Florida’s economic future like Democrat Alex Sink.
Once an outsider, Scott is now party darling
Oh, what a difference a primary makes.
Bondi, Gelber differ on focus in Florida Attorney General race
Republican attorney general nominee Pam Bondi is trying to nationalize the campaign, pushing GOP talking points about the dismal economy, the Obama administration and particularly her opposition to the health care overhaul bill it pushed through Congress earlier this year.
Webster refuses to debate Grayson in U.S. House race
Dan Webster made it official Wednesday: His campaign for Orlando’s U.S. House seat won’t include a debate with incumbent Democrat Rep. Alan Grayson.
Criticized DCA photographs same as those lawmakers have
Costly art also hangs at Capitol
What’s good enough for lawmakers is apparently too much for judges. Among the criticisms of the new $49 million 1st District Court of Appeal building is a $357,500 contract to frame and mount 400 historic photographs in the building
NAIC To Review Personal Lines Contract Transparency
A working group of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners will review a consumer representative’s controversial assertion that insurers do not offer enough transparency to policyholders to properly evaluate the difference in underwriting between carriers.
State insurance commissioners weigh insurance disclosure forms
While Thursday morning’s final vote on the medical loss ratio is getting all the attention, state insurance commissioners meeting in Orlando, Fla., have been making progress on other important issues.
Insurance case goes before Louisiana Supreme Court today
The Louisiana Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a closely watched insurance case over whether the existence of a class action lawsuit gives policyholders more time to file individual suits against their insurer.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner Race: Attracting Insurers, Value of Agents
The three politicians who want to be Georgia’s next insurance commissioner see eye-to-eye on the need for the insurance regulator to be involved in attracting new insurers and insurance jobs to the state.
Steve Pociask of the American Consumer Institute: The facts about insurance regulation in Texas
When an industry is subject to government price regulation, it becomes a political issue in every election. This year is no different.