Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, September 16

Sep 16, 2010

 

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Mike Colodny Named to Florida Underwriter Magazine’s New Statewide Editorial Advisory Board on Florida Insurance Markets

Colodny Fass Founder Mike Colodny has been named to Florida Underwriter Magazine’s New Statewide Editorial Advisory Board on Florida insurance markets.

 

Air Brakes on 45-Ton Crane Fail; Deputy critical, others injured in crash that shuts down Hillsborough intersection

A crane’s air brakes appear to have failed Thursday, sending it careening through a red light into a busy intersection, where a chain reaction of crashes injured nine people, the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office reported.

 

With Florida Approval, PurinaCare Now Sells Pet Insurance in all 50 States and D.C.

PurinaCare Insurance Services Inc. has been approved by regulators in Florida to sell pet insurance in the Sunshine State.

 

Feds:  Tampa Bay area tops in state for ‘pill mills’

The line of people clamoring for painkillers snaked out the front door.

 

U.S. Census:  Four million Floridians did not have health insurance in 2009

Statistics published Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show that 4.1 million people in Florida did not have health insurance in 2009.

 

Miami-Dade County gets $14.7M grant for disease prevention efforts

The Miami-Dade County Health Department was awarded a $14.7 million federal grant for disease prevention.

 

Obama taps Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for White House trade panel

President Obama has appointed Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to an advisory panel on international trade policy.

 

Grimsley, Aubuchon named to top state House positions

Incoming Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon has filled the chamber’s two most coveted leadership positions outside of his own.

 

National Rifle Association backs Scott in governor’s race

Gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott now has the backing of the National Rifle Association.

 

Officials seek public input on new transit option along Florida East Coast tracks

New passenger service would complement, not replace Tri-Rail

In as little as seven years, passenger service could return to the Florida East Coast Railway for the first time since 1968.

 

Florida has 17% of U.S. foreclosures

Florida foreclosure activity decreased, year-over-year, for the fifth straight month in August, but the state’s foreclosure rate still ranked second highest among all states, according to RealtyTrac.

 

Thrasher pledges St. Johns River caucus

Florida District 8 Sen. John Thrasher said Thursday he will create a Tallahassee caucus aimed at protecting the St. Johns River.

 

Florida wants to ban ‘legal weed’

Florida officials want to ban so-called “legal weed,” packs of herbs treated with chemicals that mimic the high of marijuana and have sent a rising number of smokers to emergency rooms.

 

State can’t get hands on money for air-conditioning rebate program

Florida’s residential air-conditioner rebate program that began Aug. 30 has no money, and it’s not because the $14.9 million designated for it has been disbursed.

 

State gets federal money for increasing adoptions

Florida has gotten more than $5.7 million in federal money for increasing adoptions of children in foster care.

 

State Representative Grimsley:  Next year’s budget looks better

Earlier, analysts had forecast a $6 billion shortfall for FY2012, maybe $8 billion. Instead, Legislative economist Amy Baker said Tuesday that the real deficit may be only $3 billion, maybe $2 billion.

 

Attorney General McCollum ‘cautiously optimistic’ after talk with BP claims czar

Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday that he was “cautiously optimistic” after meeting with Ken Feinberg, the administrator of a $20-billion fund for Gulf oil spill disaster victims.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  GOP Tries Full Court Press on Crist

A lawsuit could freeze millions of dollars in campaign contributions

Gov. Charlie Crist may face a twin-pronged legal attack by members of the political party he used to lead – a judicial pincer movement aimed at cutting his U.S. Senate campaign off at the knees.

 

Gov. Crist pushes for continued ‘green building’ standards despite economic challenges

South Florida’s construction industry is still struggling amid the slowdown, but that shouldn’t hamper environmentally conscious building practices, a builders’ trade group said during a meeting today headlined by Gov. Charlie Crist.

 

November election will shape political map for next decade

Governor’s race and redistricting amendments will affect the district map

When voters head to the polls in November, they will cast three votes that could reshape the political future of the state – and the nation.

 

Tea party success puts Florida to the test

Florida’s unusual three-way Senate race offers a hybrid tea party contest unlike any other election matchup around the country

Depending on who you talk to, the latest upset by a tea party-backed conservative candidate either signals a Republican surge in November or bodes well for Democrats vying for mainstream votes.

 

Carroll’s replacement in Florida legislature surprises Clay Republicans

Some figured Conkey would take over the seat

For several days, it looked as if Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey was going to replace Jennifer Carroll in the Legislature.

 

House Panel OKs RAA Measure

AARP, Consumer Federation Study Reveals 96% think Dodd-Frank fiduciary requirement should apply to insurance agents who sell investments

 

Missouri insurance director slated for federal financial risk council

State insurance commissioners have put forward Missouri Insurance Director John Huff as the industry’s representative on a new federal council overseeing risks to the financial system, said a source familiar with the plans.

 

Senate Rejects Change On Tax Reporting 

The Senate rejected the first efforts to revise or repeal a provision of the health care reform law that puts stringent tax-reporting mandates on small businesses.

 

Guy Carpenter Sells Subsidiaries To R&Q

Reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC said it has agreed to sell its wholly owned subsidiaries-Reinsurance Solutions LLC, Reinsurance Solutions Ltd. and Excess & Treaty Management Corp. -to Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc .

 

New York Group Says No-Fault Fraud Problem Growing

A coalition of New York insurers says blaming medical mills are driving up the cost of auto insurance, a trend that amounts to a “no-fault automobile insurance fraud crisis” in the state.

 

Study evaluates Bermuda, Lloyd’s underwriting practices

The Bermuda and Lloyd’s of London markets have different ways of doing business, but each can improve by adopting some practices of the other, according to a study released this week during the Rendez-Vous de Septembre reinsurance gathering in Monte Carlo.

 

Report:  Britain not prepared for climate change

Britain is not doing enough to prepare for the impacts of climate change, raising costs for homes and businesses, two separate bodies said this week.

 

RMS releases New Zealand quake insured loss estimate

Catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions Inc. on Wednesday said total insured loss estimates from the earthquake in New Zealand will fall between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion.

 

 

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