Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, August 5

 

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Citizens plans to redo 350,000 state windstorm policies

The state’s largest property insurer plans to redo windstorm policies statewide, an effort to make sure customers pay premiums that cover the full replacement value of their homes.

Citizens forcing 350,000 windstorm clients to reapply for coverage

Florida’s largest property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., has started telling its 350,000 windstorm customers that their policies won’t be renewed unless they reapply for coverage

Roof work will keep Citizens policy intact

If you have wind-only homeowner’s insurance through Citizens Property Insurance and you have a shingle roof that’s more than 25 years old or any roof that’s more than 50 years old, you could lose your coverage if you don’t replace your roof within six months.

U.S. House Bill Would Alter Tax Level For Small Companies

Legislation introduced in the House last week would increase the attachment point for investment income taxes on small property-casualty insurance companies.

Q&A:   New insurer is willing to take on Florida’s risky business

Question: Why is Avatar willing to take on the considerable risk of starting a new property insurance company in Florida?

ACTION LINE:  Get a handle on property insurance

The Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center has launched www.stormrisk.org, a one-stop resource for citizens who want to learn about Florida’s property insurance issues, especially in relation to hurricanes.

Medicare fraud fugitives evade capture

The Benitez brothers were masters of Medicare fraud, prosecutors say.

They spent their Medicare millions on Mediterranean-style homes, apartments, hotels, boats, a helicopter, even a water park — all in the resort area of Bavaro, Dominican Republic, court records show.

Gov. Charlie Crist backs Amendment 5 tax swap plan, which critics call tax increase

Property taxes would drop, but critics ask: At what cost? 

Gov. Charlie Crist entered the fray Monday over a plan to eliminate school property taxes in exchange for a higher sales tax, endorsing the tax swap and hinting he might barnstorm the state in support of it if he’s not chosen as Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate.

Fla. House defends Cuba travel restrictions

The Florida House of Representatives is defending a law it passed earlier this year requiring new restrictions on travel agencies and charter companies booking trips to Cuba.

Rubio, Rivera criticize Cuba travel agencies

Two Florida legislators — Marco Rubio, speaker of the House of Representatives, and state Rep. David Rivera — on Monday accused the agencies that offer travel packages and send packages to Cuba of making false allegations during a trial in Miami federal court to determine the validity of a new state law that imposes high fees and tighter restrictions on that industry.

Anheuser-Busch Misplaces Personal Info Of 90,000 Floridians

About 150,000 people nationwide have been affected by the theft of laptops with personal information about current and former employees of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.

Experience is key, GOP candidates say

The three Republicans campaigning to advance to the general election ballot in state House District 18 promise small government and solid conservative leadership.

Keller: GOP rival has booze history

U.S. Rep. Ric Keller put his re-election campaign on the attack this weekend, sending his opponent’s mugshot and arrest record to voters across Central Florida.

Tampa Rep. Betty Reed’s honors claimed are way overstated

Rep. Betty Reed, the incumbent in the two-Democrat District 59 race for the Florida House, recently mailed a piece of campaign literature that included this statement as part of her first-term accomplishments:

Lawsuit: Rep. Buchanan Skirted Campaign Finance Law

A former employee has filed a lawsuit accusing U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan of falsifying business documents in the operation of a Venice car dealership.

Former Florida deputy comptroller runs for the U.S. Senate — in Alaska

In television ads running frequently in Alaska, a bearded man stands in front of a house owned by recently indicted Sen. Ted Stevens.

Rouson changes tack on same-sex adoption

Citing a change of heart, state Rep. Darryl Rouson apologized Monday night for a series of disparaging remarks he made two years ago against homosexuals and same-sex families.

‘Big’ budget deficit ahead for Florida

Florida’s sagging economy will push state government back into the red this month and force Gov. Charlie Crist to either further cut spending or tap deeper into the state’s reserves.

Advocates: Children, elderly can’t suffer more budget cuts

Advocates for children and the elderly joined a government watchdog group Monday in urging Florida legislators to consider new revenue sources rather than forcing more budget cuts to cope with the state’s economic slump.

Expect a boom of Florida baby boomers by 2030

The Sunshine State is about to boom with boomers. Between 2010 and 2030, baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are expected to descend on Florida in even larger numbers and will increase their standing as the state’s largest age group.

“Green” power plant will use mill by-products

A Georgia company says it won’t use yard trimmings in a biomass gas power plant that it wants to build in Tallahassee but it could use by-products from the Buckeye Florida pulp mill in Taylor County.

TECO plans to build natural gas pipeline

TECO Energy announced a new natural gas pipeline venture on Monday in a move that underscores Florida’s surging reliance on natural gas.

Fla. judge rejects challenge to voucher amendments

Two proposed state constitutional amendments that could expand school vouchers will stay on the Nov. 4 ballot, a judge ruled Monday.

Rise in train deaths in South Florida causing concern among rail officials

Trains have killed 15 people this year in South Florida

More people have been struck and killed by trains in South Florida this year than any time in the past two decades, raising alarms among railroad and state transportation officials.

Insurers shun psychotherapy

Wider use of antidepressants and other prescription medications has reduced the role of psychotherapy, once the defining characteristic of psychiatric care, according to an analysis published today.

Allstate settles with California insurance commissioner on homeowners’ coverage

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has quietly dropped an effort to seek refunds for Allstate Corp. policyholders who might have paid too much for their homeowners’ coverage in recent years.

N.C. Repeals Gift Tax; Implications on Medicaid Planning

North Carolina’s surprise repeal of the gift tax leaves only two states that impose it: Tennessee and Connecticut.

August begins peak hurricane season

Depending on whom you ask, the following yarn about hurricane season is either an old mariners poem or a traditional West Indian rhyme:

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