Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, December 23
Dec 23, 2008
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Justices: nursing homes exempt from records law
The Florida Supreme Court says a state constitutional amendment letting patients check records of past medical mistakes doesn’t apply to nursing homes.
Group Tackles Hurricane Products That Don’t Meet Florida Code
Bill Feeley, president of the International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA), announced the formation of the Consumer Safety Task Force for Hurricane Protection Products, intended to act in unison with the Florida Attorney General’s office to protect consumers from unscrupulous hurricane profiteers.
Brown & Brown buys Louisiana agency
Insurance giant Brown & Brown announced Monday the purchase of Louisiana-based Insurance 1, Inc.
S&P affirms ratings on Florida Blues
Standard & Poors Ratings Services affirmed its A+ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.
Analyst praises startup insurer Homeowners Choice
The fledgling group of startup insurance companies taking policies out of state-run Citizens Property Insurance have taken their share of lumps from consumers worried about their financial stability in a storm
In celebration of the first anniversary of the Florida Discount Drug Card, Governor Charlie Crist today announced 66,218 Floridians have signed up for the Florida Discount Drug Card since its launch on December 20, 2007. Members have saved over $1.9 million on prescription-drug costs.
EDITORIAL: Privatizing Medicaid in Florida is helping fewer people, costing more
The Legislature should end its single-minded infatuation with privatized home care for Florida’s elderly. We can do better.
Officials working to maintain Florida’s unemployment benefits through downturn
Despite the pounding it has taken as more Floridians lose their jobs, the state’s unemployment compensation fund is in pretty good shape.
Southeast Florida Better Business Bureau busier than ever exposing fraud
When South Florida contractor complaints skyrocketed after Hurricane Wilma, the Better Business Bureau was the first line of defense for many consumers.
State’s budget plan: Tap trust funds, increase debt
Florida legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Crist have agreed on a basic road map for closing a $2.3 billion budget hole next month by draining trust funds, delaying construction projects and going deeper into debt.
COLUMN: Lawmaker proposes tax on drug paraphernalia
Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, whose district includes parts of Sarasota and Manatee counties, has an interesting idea for raising revenues during these tough times.
Gov. Charlie Crist’s calls for diverse judicial picks might lead to lawsuit
A “broad and diverse” group of Florida lawyers is weighing a lawsuit over Gov. Charlie Crist’s efforts to force two judicial nominating panels to send him more-diverse judicial picks.
EDITORIAL: Florida high court politics now officially out of control
The worst kind of judicial politics may place an unqualified person on the Florida Supreme Court. Blame Gov. Crist and some of his allies.
Crist visits Fla. unemployment agency, defends policies
With Florida’s unemployment rate at a 15-year high, Gov. Charlie Crist toured an unemployment office Monday to encourage job-seekers about getting through a worsening national recession.
Obama’s aid plan may pave road to Florida jobs
Proposal would let FDOT roll out $14M in Big Bend road projects
When candidate Barack Obama promised voters on the campaign trail that “help is on the way,” he could have been talking to the millions of frustrated motorists sweltering in traffic jams across Florida.
Fewer newcomers flocking to Florida
Economic slowdown hampers population growth
The economy is affecting Florida’s population numbers, which are rising at a slower pace that most other states, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Monday.
Who will claim Mel Martinez’s U.S. Senate seat? How the contenders match up
The holidays are typically a time for life-altering decisions. Never more so than this year, when four of Florida’s biggest political names are mulling whether an open U.S. Senate seat in 2010 will change the trajectory of their careers.
At the core of the issues is that ‘water flows toward the money’
Say “water” and many people think blue, as in the Caribbean or the crystal depths of a Florida spring. But look closer at water issues around the world and the real color of water may be green — as in money.
EDITORIAL: Wishful thinking on phosphate
If a judge’s ruling is right, Florida should overhaul its environmental laws
The holidays are times of dreams and wishes. A judge’s ruling Thursday — that a proposed phosphate mine on the Peace River in Hardee County would not pose a serious threat downstream — fits right in.
Palm Beach Princess deal hits rough waters
The $6 million deal to keep the Palm Beach Princess afloat may be in jeopardy because the new owners must provide a $500,000 letter of credit from a U.S. bank or a performance bond from an insurance company.
FTC Probing Insurers Over Credit-based Homeowners Insurance Pricing
U.S. regulators have asked nine major insurance companies, including Allstate Corp. and Travelers Cos. Inc., to provide information about how they set prices for homeowners’ coverage, the Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday.
U.S. Insurers Increasingly Outsourcing Actuarial Work to Overseas Talent
U.S. insurers and actuarial firms increasingly are outsourcing, offshoring, and importing actuarial talent from abroad, industry experts report.
COMMENTARY: Limited Designated Operations Endorsements Coverage Gaps–Myths And Realities – Part II
Yesterday was the first in this two-part series on limited designated operations endorsements. Discussed and corrected were the assertions that:
Euro Insurers Criticize U.S. Tax Proposals
A Brussels-based trade group representing European insurance and reinsurance interests on Friday voiced opposition to U.S. legislative proposals to close what some perceive as a loophole providing tax advantages to some offshore insurers.
Insurer Zurich actively looking for deals
Swiss insurer Zurich Financial Services Group (ZURN.VX ‘Zurich is definitely in a position where it can consider acquisitions,’ Mario Vitale, chief executive of Zurich Global Corporate, said in an interview.
When jobs go, so does car insurance
More drivers are letting their car insurance lapse because of the sour economy.
Several hundred thousand drivers dropped their insurance in the past year as the jobless rate climbed, estimates a study to be released next month by the Insurance Research Council, an industry-funded group.
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