Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, September 11
Sep 11, 2008
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Insurance commissioner talks risk, financial soundness
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was in town Wednesday meeting with state Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and getting a progress report on the state of the local insurance marketplace.
Homeowners Choice Takes-out 59,500 Florida-backed Citizens Policies
Homeowners Choice Inc., a Florida-based provider of homeowners’ insurance, announced that its wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Co. Inc., received the go-head to assume 59,500 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s state-sponsored insurance company.
Frustrated Volusia flooding victims raise suspicion of deliberate pond breaches
Tropical Storm Fay dumped so much rain so fast that massive ponds designed to hold once-a-century downpours failed, prompting speculation of intentional breaches in swollen man-made lakes.
New rules for Florida driver licenses go into effect Oct. 1
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has announced changes that affect drivers and customers beginning Oct. 1.
La. Regulators Suspend Cancellations, Nonrenewals with Emergency Rule
The Louisiana Department of Insurance on Sept. 10 issued Emergency Rule 24, which addresses premium renewals, cancellations, claim filings and other insurance-related matters affecting Louisiana citizens impacted by Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall in that state on Sept. 1. The rule applies to all insurers doing business in Louisiana, including surplus lines insurers, and is effective for 36 counties declared disaster areas.
Rep. Adam Hasner, of Delray Beach, retains House majority leader position
Keep calling him “Leader Hasner.”
That’s the moniker that state Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, likes to go by among his peers in the Florida Legislature.
State Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff will switch to key legislative rules role
If state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, is re-elected, her role in Tallahassee will change.
Special session possible on state budget
A select panel of lawmakers tapped $672 million from a reserve fund Wednesday, but Florida’s still facing a potential budget deficit that could force the Legislature into special session after the November election.
Lisa Pollack Edgar edged out former Hialeah lawmaker Luis Rojas as Gov. Charlie Crist announced he would reappoint her to the Public Service Commission.
Gov. Charlie Crist announced Wednesday that he will keep Lisa Pollack Edgar on the powerful panel that regulates state utilities as it addresses critical components of his climate-change agenda over the next several years.
Palm Beach County voting foul-up prompts bipartisan cries for help
Coalition of political groups asks governor for emergency action
A meltdown at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office is stoking concerns of even bigger problems for November’s presidential vote.
Florida slows sugar buyout for Everglades restoration
Water managers don’t expect to meet their optimistic goal of completing the state buyout of Big Sugar by November, saying the deal is too complicated to be rushed.
The state has tapped the brakes on its fast-track $1.75 billion bid to buy out Big Sugar and revive its Everglades restoration efforts.
Crist endorses ethanol plant to replace U.S. Sugar mill
Gov. Charlie Crist has endorsed a plan to build an ethanol plant on land that the state is trying to buy from U.S. Sugar to use for Everglades restoration.
Alternate planning amendment goes to court
Boosters of a citizen initiative that would require voter approval for changes in local growth plans are trying to keep a business-backed alternative off the 2010 ballot.
Judge’s Ruling Reopens Debate On Gay Adoption Ban
A South Florida judge’s ruling that Florida’s ban on gay adoption is unconstitutional could help convince legislators it’s time to change an antiquated law, gay advocates say.
Florida Democrats reminded House leaders of no-drilling protections enacted in a 2006 law.
It’s hard to believe this worked.
Tuesday, Florida’s Gulf Coast was in the sights of House Democratic leaders crafting a bill to expand offshore oil and gas exploration.
Congressional hopeful and former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez has been active in various local government issues, a potential issue during his race against Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
During a high-stakes vote earlier this year, Miami City Hall played host to a virtual who’s who of local lobbyists.
Allegations of State Farm Katrina Misconduct Withdrawn
A Mississippi couple that filed a federal lawsuit accusing State Farm of manipulating damage estimates after their home was hit by Hurricane Katrina, has withdrawn the charge.
After storms, adjusters blow into disaster areas
Barry Schoch’s cell phone comes to life with ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ – a reminder of the nine months he spent assessing damage from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Audit: FEMA wasted millions on no-bid contracts
A report by the Homeland Security Department’s office of inspector general, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, is the latest to detail mismanagement in the multibillion-dollar Katrina hurricane recovery effort, which investigators have said wasted at least $1 billion.
Industry action sought to push passage of national insurance regulatory program
Collision repairers are being asked to contact their elected federal officials to encourage passage of House Resolution 5840, which would establish an Office of Insurance Information within the Treasury Department to address differences in insurance regulatory standards among the various states.
NAIFA Backs Federal Option For Insurers, Agents
Members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ national council agreed today to support the concept of letting insurance industry players choose between state regulation and federal regulation.
Natural Hazard Research Papers Booklet Released
A compendium of 80 recent scientific research papers focusing on the four major natural hazard areas relevant to catastrophe reinsurance and insurance was released in Monte Carlo, Monaco yesterday.
Gustav-Related Louisiana Agriculture Damage Estimates Released
The LSU AgCenter compiled preliminary estimates of the agriculture and fisheries losses caused by Hurricane Gustav. A look at the estimated losses and the percent of crop value:
Coverage guarantee can hit young the hardest
The Democratic presidential nominee is proposing a National Health Insurance Exchange that would be like a government-run shopping mall for health insurance. It would negotiate prices and benefits with private insurers. Among the offerings would be a government-run, Medicare-like plan.
North Carolina Insured Drivers to See Rate Decrease of 16.1%
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long signed an order requiring a 16.1 percent reduction in private passenger auto rates and a 11.7 percent reduction in motorcycle liability rates.
Experts discuss making homes hurricane ready
Getting people back in their homes quickly is vital to hurricane recovery, the head of a national program to build more storm-resistant homes, said Wednesday. ‘The faster you get the people back, the faster the community recovers – the faster it recovers economically and the community vitality comes back,’ said Tim Smail, leader of the Resilient Home Program based at the Savannah River National Laboratory.
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