Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, Feb. 12

Representative Klein (second from left), Mahoney (second from right) and Wexler (right) came to West Palm Beach to take testimony about property skyrocketing property insurance premiums Monday afternoon. Witnesses included Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, insurance industry officials and consumers. (Uma Sanghvi/The Palm Beach Post)

 

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Floridians lobby for federal help with property insurance

House insurance panel visits WPB for hearing

A retired homeowner, an insurance agent, a mayor and a Realtor told federal lawmakers gathered in West Palm Beach on Monday that they need the federal government’s help to address Florida’s property insurance crisis.

Congress on road to tackle insurance

Florida’s property insurance problems are spreading quickly to other states, four congressmen said Monday as they pushed for federal intervention to shore up the marketplace.

Help States With Catastrophes, House Panel Told

Advocates for a federal role in natural catastrophe insurance, at a Florida hearing today, urged federal lawmakers to help states prepare for the financial impact of a natural catastrophe.

Officials rethink storm fund

Soon after the insurance reform bill was passed last January, some lawmakers and state officials started to worry about the big tab Florida taxpayers would have to cover if a massive storm hit the state.

Editorial: FEMA will see you now

U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, had to take the unusual step of meeting with FEMA Director David Paulison recently to find out why the agency still owed Martin County $3.2 million for debris removal from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.

Title insurance overcharge suit advances

A lawsuit that alleges lender Ameriquest Mortgage overcharged for title insurance on home refinancings can proceed as a class action, a state judge ruled.

Minico Offering Self-Storage Property, Wind Coverage in Coastal States

Phoenix-based MiniCo Inc. reported it signed an agreement with Boulder, Colo.-based International Catastrophe Insurance Managers LLC (ICAT), to begin offering property and wind coverage for coastal locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Energy panel urges changes paid for with private funds

Florida Energy Commission has already begun pushing its clean-energy policies to state lawmakers, even though the 2008 legislative session doesn’t convene until next month.

Tax cap might go before voters

A tax panel that has the power to put reforms on the ballot pushed forward a constitutional amendment Monday that would cap the amount of taxes and fees that could be collected by Florida’s cities, counties and school districts.

Some Broward cities may raise property taxes

It wasn’t supposed to increase taxes.

Fla. puts national tourism ad out to blunt economic slowdown

Florida is hoping to blunt the effect of a softening economy with the state’s first national tourism ad campaign aimed at persuading travelers to visit.

Officials tout alternative fuel to aid state farmers

Producing ethanol-based fuels could provide Florida farmers with another crop — or crops — they can make money from.

GOP likes Posey in primary

Mayfield quits; another rival feels ‘alienated’

The Republican Party establishment has rallied around state Sen. Bill Posey of Rockledge in his attempt to capture the congressional seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic.

Crist stumps in Collier for House candidate

The main terminal of Naples Municipal Airport was packed Monday night, but no one was waiting for a plane.

Touch screens innocent, but already convicted

Results just in: The touch-screen voting machines that the losing candidate says cost her a Florida congressional seat work just fine.

Puerto Ricans plan 2 protests aimed at ‘foreign citizens’ comment

Hundreds of Puerto Ricans are expected to join protests condemning a Florida congresswoman who referred to those from the U.S. territory as “foreign citizens.”

Fired DCF Official Faces New Sex Charges, Called Flight Risk

A federal prosecutor said in court today that a former state Department of Children & Families spokesman charged with producing child pornography is a flight risk and a danger to the community.

FCAT scores that spell success in Florida likely to fail federal standards

Scores that spell success in Florida fail federal criteria

As Broward County public school students settle in today to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, chances are good many will earn their schools high marks from the state of Florida, but at the same time, will fail to measure up with President Bush and his keystone education policy of No Child Left Behind.

Brown & Brown to fight 1st year-over-year loss

Brown & Brown, though shaken by price cutting in the Florida insurance business, served notice Monday it doesn’t intend to slash its 5,000-member work force as a quick fix to boost profits.

Texas Urges Verification of Windstorm Insurance Inspectors

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) issued a reminder to consumers that windstorm insurance inspections, which are required for properties to be eligible for wind and hail coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), must be conducted by either a TDI inspector or an engineer who has been appointed by the TDI Commissioner.

Maryland Can’t Stop Allstate Plan to Refuse New Coastal Business

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Ralph S. Tyler today accepted Allstate Insurance Co.’s decision to refuse new homeowners’ policies in coastal areas.

Singer Tom Jones Denies Chest Hair Insurance Report

Singer Tom Jones denied a report he bought a $6.8 million insurance policy for his chest hair.

 

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