Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, December 8
Dec 8, 2009
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Bennett proposing change to homeowners’ insurance
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton. is again proposing what he calls the “Consumer Choice” bill, which he asserts would allow consumers to decide for themselves if they prefer a private home insurer offering market-based rates.
- Property Insurance Bill Filed Today Would Afford Partially Unregulated Rates to All Florida Insurers
Column: ‘Political schizophrenia’ gripping Florida regulators, analyst says
Florida regulators are suffering from “political schizophrenia,” according to an insurance industry analyst.
Lake Wales Houses Ruined by Chinese Drywall
Two years ago, Ron Maness bought a new investment home in the gated Lake Ashton golf community in Lake Wales.
Accounting Change to Boost Insurers’ Books by $11 Billion
State insurance regulators passed a revision to income tax accounting rules that will add a projected $11 billion in capital to life insurance companies’ balance sheets at the end of the year.
Hallmark snags tenant for green building
Insurance agency Brown & Brown of Florida Inc. has leased nearly 10,000 square feet at Clearwaters Offices at Park Place, an environmentally sustainable project.
USAA CEO named 2009 Innovator of the Year
Tampa call center to employ nearly 2,000
USAA CEO Joe Robles has been named Innovator of the Year by American Banker as part of its 2009 Banker of the Year awards issue.
Miami Trial puts focus on kids’ care
Speaking at a conference on Medicaid in June 2007, Florida’s healthcare chief at the time, Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, bemoaned the ”critical” shortage of doctors willing to accept payment from the state’s insurance program for the needy.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Florida AHCA looks likely to go with ACS for now
Despite more grumbling about its performance, one of the nation’s largest technology companies Tuesday appeared likely to retain a lucrative state contract for recouping some $120 million in Medicaid overpayments.
Manatee hospital system and key insurer face off
Contract dispute has thousands of policyholders standing by
Manatee County’s largest hospital system may stop taking a major insurance carrier, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, forcing 23,000 policyholders in Manatee County alone to go elsewhere or pay high out-of-network prices.
Rail bill, after sailing through Florida House, faces Senate fight
A bill fast-tracking Florida rail projects raced out of the House with strong support Monday but slowed to a crawl in the Senate, barely surviving a 5-4 committee vote.
Blog: St. Lucie property appraiser finds $14 million property state owns…sort of
St. Lucie County Property Appraiser Jeff Furst wants to help out frustrated Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander who’s been trying to get a handle on how many buildings the state owns and where they are.
West Tampa Democrat surfacing as likely successor to Scionti
Within minutes of Tampa state Rep. Michael Scionti announcing his resignation to take a position with the Obama administration, a West Tampa activist has emerged as his possible successor.
Lawson won’t enter race for CFO
State Sen. Al Lawson, Florida’s longest-serving legislator, said Monday he is not interested in switching his political sights to a race for chief financial officer next year.
Special session not likely on Seminole gambling deal
Legislators to focus on comprehensive plan during spring
A special session to approve a Seminole gambling deal is all but dead.
Ratings: 42 Fla. banks ‘severely troubled’
Twelve Florida banks have failed so far this year, but plenty of new, troubled institutions are stacking up behind them.
Sarasota’s LandMark bank given lowest rating
LandMark Bank of Florida has joined three other local community banks on BauerFinancial Inc.’s latest list of Florida’s weakest financial institutions.
Loan modifiers will soon need license, says Florida Office of Financial Regulation
The clock is ticking for unlicensed companies trying to entice home buyers to modify their mortgages. Or demanding an upfront fee to help them out.
Condo Rules Could Shut Out Buyers, Hit Builders
Florida Market Requires Special Approval
New lending rules for condominium buyers are already forcing some developers to change or scrap plans for new projects for fear too many buyers will be shut out.On Monday, the started limiting the number of buyers in condo buildings that can get loans insured by the agency.
State keeps close watch over local shellfish industry
Since 2005, companies that process shellfish in Bay, Franklin and Gulf counties have been sent nearly 80 letters from the state warning that they were in violation of various industry standards.
Water district hires private enforcers
Last month state Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, offered a startling revelation. He told a meeting of state lawmakers who represent Marion County that, according to one of his constituents, state water managers were assembling their own police force.
State launches ’12 Days of Fugitives’
Do you need some Christmas cash? Well, beginning today, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state Department of Corrections have 12 days of opportunity to earn some money.
Supreme Court Justices Question Audit Board Under Sarbanes-Oxley
Several U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed to question Monday whether the president had enough authority over an agency that polices auditors of public companies.
High court declines controversial workers comp ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a controversial appeals court decision that allows workers compensation claimants to sue an employer and its third-party administrator under federal racketeering law.
FASB chief to propose allowing banks to move away from GAAP
Robert Herz, chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, is set to call on bank regulators to consider allowing financial institutions to break free from generally accepted accounting principles.
Lawmakers are reluctant to crack down on credit rating agencies
Credit rating agencies have been seen as playing an integral role in the financial crisis, having given top marks to billions of dollars worth of bonds that became part of the subprime-mortgage meltdown.
Debt Raters Avoid Overhaul After Crisis
When the financial crisis began, few players on Wall Street looked more ripe for reform than the Big Three credit rating agencies.
Mitigation Experts Convene At Travelers Institute
The Travelers Institute said it convened a panel of experts to discuss strategies for making homes more storm resistant at what it called a Partnership on Mitigation Summit in Windsor, Conn.
Mass. Weighs FAIR Plan Property Insurance Rates
Massachusetts will begin public hearings next week on a request by the state’s property insurer of last resort to raise rates from 1.9 percent to 7 percent.
The insurance industry may not see a return to relative stability and certainty for a few years as it reacts to the effects of regulatory reform, increased government intervention and potential tax law changes in the aftermath of the financial crisis, said PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in a report released today.
NAIC Regulatory Reform Idea Would Preempt States, Critics Say
State legislators have slammed a National Association of Insurance Commissioners proposal for regulatory reform as a measure permitting federal authorities to take over their insurance lawmaking function.
White House Is Urged to Help States With Nuclear Plants Stockpile Thyroid Drug
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress passed a law instructing the federal government to help states build bigger stocks of a simple, cheap drug to protect people near nuclear power plants in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.
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