Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, April 20
Apr 20, 2010
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Paige St. John: Regulators take a gamble on discount insurance
People’s Trust Insurance CEO Mike Gold uses phone sales to cut costs.
Mike Gold’s idea to transform Florida property insurance arrived at the right moment.
How Do Florida’s Coastal Windstorm Costs Compare?
A Sunshine State News evaluation of windstorm premiums for older homes in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas showed that it costs more than most — and in some cases a lot more — for a premium in Florida than in many of those neighboring coastal states.
Clearwater-based Homeowners Choice plans to buy office building from CAT-FLA Owner
Homeowners Choice Inc. said it has a deal to buy an office building and land in Tampa.
Crawford’s Latin American and Caribbean Office Moves to New Location in Miami
Crawford & Company the world’s largest independent provider of claims management solutions, has moved the Miami office where its Latin American and Caribbean operations are based to a new location, effective April 1.
Texting-driving ban is close to being law
And it’s not just texting that’s becoming verboten. Bills are moving quickly through the Legislature in Tallahassee that would impose fines on anyone caught using any wireless device with one hand while steering with the other – even for reading a cell phone message.
Florida House passes Medicaid overhaul
A massive overhaul that would put most of Florida’s 2.7 million Medicaid participants in private managed care plans cleared the Florida House on Monday.
- Florida House, Senate set to talk on Medicaid
- Medicaid bill a waste, report says
- Florida health-reform plan empowers growing Medicaid
- Opt-out of federal insurance requirement amendment pops up again
Florida Health Care Freedom Act Poised for House Consideration
Today, Florida House Joint Resolution 37-a constitutional amendment protecting a patient’s right to pay directly for medical care, and prohibiting penalties for failing to purchase health insurance-passed the critical Rules & Calendar Council and is now slated for consideration by the full Florida House.
Crunch on Florida Department of Health, Medicaid bills
Today the Florida House will consider a plan to shrink the state Department of Health, following Monday’s passage of a Medicaid overhaul. But it remains unclear whether either of those controversial proposals will become law.
Pain-clinic bill could get left behind
With two weeks to go in the legislative session, officials pushing for the crackdown are concerned that lawmakers have yet to reach an accord and that legislative rules could shut the door on passing a bill.
Editorial: Florida lawmakers deserve opportunity to vote on Safeguard Our Seniors bill
A bill designed to protect Florida seniors from unscrupulous annuities brokers is being held hostage by a committee chairman in the state House.
Florida House voting on parental waiver bill
A bill to reinstate parental waivers of liability against theme parks, go-cart tracks and other businesses that offer potentially harmful fun is up for final action in the Florida Legislature.
New York Times: Pressured in Senate Race, Crist May Leave G.O.P.
Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, facing pressure from fellow Republicans to abandon his Senate campaign, said Monday that he would not allow party leaders in Washington to push him from the race and declared that he was considering running for the seat as an independent.
- Crist says he may make independent Senate run
- GOP leader: ‘Zero chance’ Crist runs in primary
- Early end to Crist ad campaign in Tampa, Orlando fuels speculation
Florida House and Senate get beyond impasse in budget negotiations
Negotiations on a new state budget picked up steam Monday as legislators sought common ground in hopes of bringing the 2010 session to a smooth conclusion late next week.
- Senate concessions gets legislature’s budget negotiators back on schedule
- State workers score budget victory
House passes Indian gaming bill, sends to governor
Lawmakers signed off on a 20-year deal with the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida on Monday that guarantees the state roughly $1.3 billion in the next five years.
The bill (SB 622) now goes to Gov. Charlie Crist, an enthusiastic proponent who has already said he’d sign it.
Anti-corruption bill advances in Senate
Seeking to stymie public officials who use their positions for financial gain, Broward State Attorney Mike Satz appeared Monday before a Senate committee to support tougher state corruption laws. “We feel this bill is really important for us as a tool in fighting public corruption,” Satz told the Committee on Criminal Justice, which passed the bill, 6-0.
Waterfront proposal at crossroads
The Legislature is supposed to write rules this year to implement a 2008 constitutional amendment giving tax breaks to ”working waterfronts.”
Key Florida road projects delayed, dropped — but rail on track
Dwindling state tax dollars are postponing or scrapping nearly $119 million worth of road improvements in Central Florida, including extra lanes to a stretch of traffic-clogged Interstate 4 through downtown Orlando.
Florida senators negotiate in open
Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey broke with tradition and invited reporters to his office for what was planned as a private meeting with Rep. Steve Precourt of Orlando over his bill to reorganize the Public Service Commission. Precourt did not expect this.
Sansom: Theft case should be dismissed
Ray Sansom has again asked a judge to dismiss the criminal case against him, arguing grand theft charges are too broad to limit prosecutorial discretion.
Arrest made in Florida U.S. Rep. Brown-Waite death threat
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Lawrence Pidrman, 66, of Spring Hill, for allegedly making a death threat over the phone last month against Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite.
A few years ago Jeff Kottkamp was an obscure state representative from Fort Myers that most people had never heard of.
John Thrasher wields much power for freshman Florida state senator
His hard-headed and ham-handed qualities when taking stands on divisive issues are those of a good leader, supporters say.
He is technically the lowest-ranking senator in the state. He said so himself a few weeks ago, when reporters crowded around him to ask about the state of the Legislature at its midpoint.
Florida U.S. Rep. Kosmas’ campaign war chest more than triples her closest rival
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach ended her latest fundraising quarter with more than $1 million in the bank – far outpacing a pack of Republican rivals looking to beat the freshman Democrat.
N.Y. Agent Disclosure Rule Will Be Challenged By Another Group
The Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York said it will join the legal effort to defeat New York’s compensation disclosure rule for agents and brokers.
Sedgwick Claims Management Sold For $1.1 Billion
Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. announced that it will be acquired for $1.1 billion by investment funds affiliated with Stone Point Capital LLC and Hellman & Friedman LLC.
German firm buys U.S. property loss control consultant
German inspection, testing and certification company TÜV SÜD A.G. on Tuesday said it has acquired Global Risk Consultants Corp., a property loss control consultant based in Clark, N.J.
QBE Acquiring Crop Insurer For $565M
Sydney, Australia-based QBE Insurance Group Limited announced that it has agreed to acquire NAU Country Insurance Company, a crop insurer, for $565 million, highlighting a diversification goal as an impetus for the deal.
Risk managers are benefitting from lower premiums, but looming catastrophe losses could portend a turn in the market.
Lockton Market Update Shows Global Insurance Markets Remain Calm
In its newly published Lockton Market Update, global insurance broker Lockton says that commercial insurance buyers continue to benefit from lower prices and steady or increasing insurance capacity in property and casualty markets.
Louisiana Bill Would Limit Liability of Mardi Gras Float-Builders
A bill passed by the Louisiana House to limit the liability of float-builders would damage future attempts for float riders or watchers to sue when parade festivities hurt or kill someone, says a man whose brother died in a float accident.
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