Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, July 10

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Former National Hurricane Center directors discuss tough position

MIAMI — A day after the director of the National Hurricane Center went on leave following questions about his leadership, former directors said Tuesday he should have listened more carefully to his staff and been slower to make changes.

 

Miami-Dade voters get another chance to decide on slot machines

MIAMI — Voters in Miami-Dade County will get another chance to approve or reject the addition of slot machines at three pari-mutuels after commissioners decided Tuesday to put the measure on the ballot in January.

 

Schwarzenegger pumps up Crist’s summit on climate

Gov. Charlie Crist has Arnold envy when it comes to answers for climate change.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the darling of advocates for solutions to global warming. Crist has recruited the former Hollywood star to talk at the much-anticipated Florida Summit on Global Climate Change in Miami on Thursday and Friday.

 

Favored healthcare insurer for Dade County is millions costlier than competitor

When Miami-Dade County searched for a new health insurance company in hopes of saving its employees thousands of dollars a year, it considered all kinds of factors: experience, drug coverage, even how many people would need to change doctors.

 

Time to address the problems with PIP

Our Opinion: Call Special Session To Preserve Auto Insurance Mandate

Gov. Crist should call a special legislative session to ensure that Florida’s mandated auto insurance for drivers survives past Oct. 1. Fortunately, the governor has said he is inclined to do so. The sooner the session, the better.

 

Pickens drops bid for education commissioner

TALLAHASSEE – State Rep. Joe Pickens erased his name on Monday from the short list for Florida’s next education commissioner, likely ending a long run of Northeast Floridians in the top job.

 

$685M paid for Sunrise health insurer

Vista Healthplans, the Sunrise insurer that covers many Broward county and school employees, is being purchased by Coventry Health Care for $685 million, the two companies announced Tuesday.

 

Carter, Wellstone push mental health act

Rosalynn Carter teamed up with the son of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone on Tuesday to push for mental health insurance legislation, with the former first lady saying the goal has never been closer to realization.

 

CPA’s insurer agrees to pay 3.5 million

The insurer for Miami’s SpearSaferCPAs&Advisors has agreed to pay $3.5 million to the court-appointed receiver of Mutual Benefits to settle allegations the accounting firm was negligent in its audits of the viatical and life settlement company.

 

UF considers mandating student health insurance

Health insurance may soon be as important as good grades and high SAT scores for potential college students in the state of Florida.

 

Travel restrictions don’t stop Legislature Dozens slated to attend conventions

Despite newly tightened budget restrictions on travel, two dozen Florida legislators are heading for Philadelphia this month for a conservative organization’s convention featuring two potential Republican presidential candidates.

 

Florida Agencies Form Alliance

Insurance broker J. Rolfe Davis, based in Maitland, Fla., announced a strategic business alliance with Alltrust Insurance, an independent insurance agency specializing in employee benefits based in Tampa Bay, Fla.

 

Barack Obama heads to Tallahassee Aug. 24
 
Sen. Barack Obama is bringing his presidential campaign to Tallahassee next month.

The Illinois Democrat is scheduled to be the featured speaker at the Leon County Democratic Party’s annual Collins-Steele fundraising dinner Aug. 24 at the University Center Club. Tickets are $80 for members of the local Democratic Executive Committee and $100 for nonmembers.

 

RMS Tunes Up Asian Cat Models

Risk Management Solutions, the Newark, Calif.-based catastrophe modeling firm, announced today it has launched several new models for the emerging Asian marketplace.

 

We’re flooded with political insurance

The great American heartland, without much complaint, has been helping us Floridians live the good life since federal flood insurance was created back in 1968.

 

Influx of doctors overwhelms Texas board

An influx of doctors lured to Texas by new limits on malpractice lawsuits has overwhelmed the state board that screens candidates for medical licenses, creating a backlog that forces many applicants to wait months before they can start seeing patients.

 

Senators edge toward kids insurance deal

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are cutting back on their proposed expansion of a health insurance program for children, a Republican lawmaker involved in the discussions said Tuesday.

 

Vitter latest of Louisiana’s bad boys

NEW ORLEANS — Inured to bad boys in politics, this tolerant city on Tuesday was quick to absolve the state’s latest scandal-tainted politician, Sen. David Vitter, a Republican who admitted to being involved in an alleged prostitution ring.

 

Dade launches free storm alert service

With tropical weather still blissfully quiet this summer, Miami-Dade County government quietly launched a new service providing on-the-go warnings for severe weather.

 

Data on Americans mined for terror risk

WASHINGTON — The FBI is gathering and sorting information about Americans to help search for potential terrorists, insurance cheats and crooked pharmacists, according to a government report obtained Tuesday.

 

Buffett delivers stock gift to charities

The five foundations billionaire Warren Buffett has pledged most of his $49 billion fortune to received their second annual gifts of Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. on Monday.

 

Eye of the beholder

When he was governor, Jeb Bush made it clear that he didn’t think gambling and Florida were a good fit. When a constitutional amendment passed that eventually required him to approve a bill allowing slot machines in Broward County, he included this sentence in his signing message:

 

Firm Finds Its Niche in Obscure Trade Associations

Pop quiz: What do birthing classes, spice sellers and crematoriums have in common — besides bracketing the cycle of life?