Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, February 1

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Blog:  Should Citizens leaders come from the insurance industry?

Tucked in a sweeping property insurance bill that is expected to clear its first hurdle Monday is a provision that would bar Citizens Property Insurance board members from voting on any matters that impact themselves, their employers, relatives or business associates.

Blog:  New digs for Citizens insurance as it prepares to shrink

As state-backed Citizens Property Insurance board members approved new offices Monday, some said they weren’t happy that it will have to pay for a larger space when it may be shrinking soon.

Letter to the Editor:  Florida should strengthen roof-coating regulations

Re the Dec. 31 story Homeowners report problems after their roofs were painted to reflect sunlight: It is the policy of the federal Department of Energy to encourage the use of light-colored material or white roof coatings on all types of roofs to reflect the sun’s heat, lowering the cost of air conditioning, improving building efficiency and saving energy — a national priority.

Florida’s sinkhole shakedown:  Insurers’ new pitfall

We can’t catch a break. If the wind isn’t howling from hurricanes, the ground must be collapsing from sinkholes.

Hillsborough taxes down the (sink)hole

In Hillsborough County, it appears sinkholes are a hole in the ground into which taxpayers shovel money.

Spring Hill residents allowed home after sinkhole incident

Most of the residents who had been evacuated after a reported sinkhole in their neighborhood have been allowed to return home, Hernando County officials said Monday afternoon.

Punta Gorda man charged in insurance scam

A Punta Gorda man is accused of filing a fraudulent insurance claim on a dump truck reported stolen.

Florida Drivers Are Paying $1 Billion ‘Fraud Tax’

Staged auto accidents and questionable medical treatment are adding around $1 billion to the costs of Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system, the Insurance Information Institute says.

Collision coincidence:  Car crashes into Tampa office that insures it

For the third time in 10 years, a car has struck the Adrian Fernandez Insurance office on Armenia Avenue.

Scott to unveil state budget with tea party organizers in rural Eustis

Rick Scott wants to throw himself a tea party over the Florida budget

• First-look at Rick Scott’s budget previews significant consolidation efforts
• Florida Governor Rick Scott announces plan to save $1 billion over two years

Times:  Governor Rick Scott finishes up four-day visit to Washington D.C.

Governor Rick Scott on Monday wrapped up a four-day visit to Washington, D.C., meeting with housing and health care officials and the new chairman of the Republican National Committee. Spokesman Brian Burgess gave a rundown:

Florida has spent only half of its stimulus grants

Florida still has spent only about half of the federal grant and contract money it has been awarded through the federal-stimulus program, although most of what is left – more than $5.5 billion – is slated to be spent soon.

Bill would make redistricting proposals public records

Florida lawmakers overseeing redistricting have promised an open, transparent process, planning to hold at least 20 public hearings around the state and sharing new software that allows the public to explore different proposals for drawing district lines. A new law could help make those promises a reality.

Florida legislators enter online travel companies tax battle

The battle over how much tax local governments receive when you book a hotel room online is heating up in another arena: the Florida Legislature.

Bill would tighten unemployment eligibility

State Senator Nancy Detert, who last month urged state labor officials to move “slackers and malingerers” off unemployment rolls, filed a bill Monday that would tighten unemployment eligibility, make it easier for businesses to deny benefits and push laid-off workers to take lower-paying jobs after they have received 12 weeks of payments.

Palm Beach County considers law to help workers collect pay owed by employers

People cheated out of pay by their employers in Palm Beach County may soon be able to turn to the county for help recouping the money they are owed.

Sentinel:  New merit pay bill filed in Senate

Florida teachers would be judged on their students’ growth on standardized tests, and new teachers would be paid based on that test-score data as part of a new merit pay bill filed Monday in the Florida Senate.

Florida Chamber study says Florida trial judges underpaid

A research group affiliated with the Florida Chamber of Commerce says the state’s trial judges are underpaid compared to other states.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Targets Two Florida Republicans With Radio Ads

Democrats aren’t wasting any time getting back in the game. Republicans gave them such a shellacking at the polls in November that they’re looking to rebound big in 2012 — starting as early as right now and targeting 19 Republican U.S. House incumbents they believe are vulnerable, including two in Florida.

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