Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, April 14
Apr 14, 2009
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Less than three months after State Farm, the state’s largest private property insurer, announced it was abandoning the Florida market, legislators are trying to woo the company back with a bill that would allow significant rate increases with few regulations.
Officials Debate State Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
In another move to bolster a shaky property insurance market, some lawmakers want to ease rate regulation on some of the larger insurance companies, including State Farm.
Cabinet hears ideas to shore up Cat fund
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet are still looking for ways to help the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund provide backup coverage for insurance companies.
Smelly drywall may be in some Doral homes
The Chinese-made drywall scare has reached Doral, where three homes in an unidentified community have been found to have the possible health hazard.
Doral officials have launched their own investigation into the Chinese-manufactured drywall that has homes across the country smelling like rotten eggs.
Florida-based Brown & Brown Acquires Oregon Agency
Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance brokerage Brown & Brown said it has acquired W. R. Reed & Co. of Portland, Ore. Financial terms were not released.
Jacksonville’s FNF could lose $10M in 1Q
Jacksonville-based Fidelity National Financial Inc. is estimating a pre-tax loss of $300,000 to $10.5 million in the first quarter, largely due to impairment charges on investments and special bonuses to officers and employees. The company made $36.4 million in the first quarter of last year.
Sean Shaw: Understanding your health insurance
In my position as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate, I often hear about how health insurance is letting our citizens down. Most often the complaint is that health insurance benefits are decreasing thereby leaving many people owing substantial amounts to health care providers after their health insurance has paid its share.
House panel OKs more Fla. property tax relief
Florida homeowners whose property taxes rise when market values drop would get relief under a proposal moving through the Legislature.
Now, the hard part: Florida legislators, governor will try sorting out their differences
It’s crunch time in the Florida Legislature, as the House and Senate face the reality of their major philosophical differences over taxing, spending, gambling and other issues.
House panel OKs gambling-expansion bill
Longer hours, bigger pots would reap $140 million in tax revenue
A special House committee sweetened the pot Monday for pari-mutuel gambling operations that face tougher competition from Seminole casinos.
NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Clerks Sitting and Waiting to See Who Controls Their Budget
A politically sensitive game of football has left county clerks’ offices waiting to see who will be in control of their budgets, how much money they will get and if they will have to lay off employees.
Legislators appear poised to revive Florida quarter horse racing
Legislators are still at odds over whether to expand casino gambling, but they appear ready to quietly revive a dead industry in Florida: quarter horse racing.
Rep. Kendrick Meek opposes remittances to Cuba
Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek is wary of President Barack Obama’s plan to let Cuban Americans send unlimited remittances to relatives in Cuba.
Hagan aide plans run for House seat
Rich Reidy, chief aide to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, announced today he will run for the Florida House in a district that includes much of the northern and northwest areas of the county.
Countdown to shuttle’s end resumes
A top NASA official said Monday that the agency plans to resume shutting down the space-shuttle program next month despite calls from Florida lawmakers to fly the orbiter beyond its planned retirement in 2010.
Fewer Funds Are Raising Capital for Start-Ups
Only 40 venture capital funds nationwide raised money during the first three months of the year, marking the lowest level of institutional funding in six years.
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