Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, June 15
Jun 15, 2010
Above: Hours ahead of addressing the nation today, President Barack Obama and Gov. Charlie Crist visited Pensacola Beach, Florida’s ground zero in the Deepwater Horizon crisis. (Associated Press Photo)
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Experts meet to plan for double disaster – hurricane vs. oil spill
Experts convened Monday on the Panama City campus of Florida State University to plan for a potentially darker chapter in the nation’s worst ecological disaster – a hurricane striking the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Drywall tax break to cover condos, town homes
A new law designed to give homeowners with tainted drywall property tax breaks also will apply to town homes and condos, the Florida Department of Revenue said.
Strip club owner Joe Redner has filed to run for the District 58 state House seat. Redner is running with no party affiliation for the seat that typically ends up in the hands of Democrats.
Florida traffic deaths reach record low
The already declining rate of yearly Florida traffic deaths reached an all-time low in 2009, according to a report released Monday.
News Release: Florida Med Mal Insurer Endorses Medical Justice Services
First Professionals Offers Medical Justice Membership as Benefit to Florida Insureds
First Professionals Insurance Company, Inc. today announced an endorsed and strategic relationship with Medical Justice Services, Inc.
Florida Pension Fund Takes $67 Million Hit from BP Stock Plunge
BP stock has lost $80 billion since oil spill
Florida’s pension fund, the fourth-largest in the nation, has seen the value of its BP investments plunge more than $67 million since the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, but the paper loss is still too small to seriously threaten the fund’s $112.4 billion bottom line, managers said today.
Blog: Okaloosa County Seizing Control of Oil Spill Response
Frustrated with attempts to respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Okaloosa County has voted to give it the ability to do whatever it needs to respond to protect its beaches and waters from the spill without federal or state approval or approval from British Petroleum.
Fla. Republicans ask Obama to waive Jones Act
U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller want President Barack Obama to waive a law they say is keeping foreign oil skimmers out of the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf Coast Power Rising in Florida
Big population gains on state’s west coast mean enhanced political clout; gauging the impact on offshore oil drilling
Florida candidates head to the starting line
Candidate qualifying for Florida’s state races began with a recent political science graduate and an economist who wants to start a state bank taking the first spots in the starting gate Monday.
DeLand man enters race for governor
If the election had been held Monday afternoon, the next Florida governor would be DeLand’s Michael Arth — the first candidate to officially qualify for the race.
Blog: Rich Reidy drops out of District 47 state house race
Rich Reidy, a legislative aide to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, has dropped out of the race for the District 47 state house seat.
Crist shifts view on Cuban travel restrictions
As the Republican governor of Florida, Charlie Crist backed U.S. sanctions against Cuba and signed off on a state law hiking costs on agencies that book trips to the repressive regime.
State spells out who will get foreclosure relief funds
A state group has unveiled plans for divvying up $317 million in federal foreclosure relief to mortgage-challenged Floridians struggling with unemployment, underemployment or medical hardships.
Florida slams brakes on government workers’ ‘double dipping’ July 1
Teachers and government workers who retire must wait six months before returning to the job
In 2007, Jon Wilson retired after 38 years teaching history at Hollywood Hills High School. His retirement: One month.
Blog: Independent rating agencies: Florida’s banks among weakest
Two independent rating agencies are out with the latest ratings of Florida banks, and the results are less than inspiring.
Forums to feature Senate, governor hopefuls
Sarasota will be at the center of Florida politics this week when most of the major candidates for the U.S. Senate and for governor are scheduled to attend a pair of forums Thursday hosted by the Florida Society of News Editors/Florida Press Association.
McCollum wants to debate Rick Scott; Mitt Romney endorses in governor race
If Rick Scott wants to debate, Bill McCollum is looking forward to it. So the two frontrunners in the race for the GOP nomination for Florida governor to replace Charlie Crist could be on track to debate before the Aug. 24 primary.
Blog: Bud Chiles called GOP’s best weapon in governor’s race
Democratic Uber money-raiser Kirk Wagar of Miami has always been bullish on Alex Sink’s prospects at winning the governor’s mansion, but he acknowledged that the nonpartisan candidacy of Lawton “Bud” Chiles III is bad news for Democrats.
Blog: Dueling sheriff’s endorsements in ag race
Republican Congressman Adam Putnam and his chief Democratic rival in the agriculture commissioner’s race, Scott Maddox, released dueling lists of endorsements from Florida sheriffs on Tuesday.
Judge: Louisiana Attorney General Can Investigate BP Compensation Process
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has been told he can go ahead with his investigation of BP, the rig explosion that’s dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and the company’s process for compensating Louisianans affected by the disaster.
News Release: Bacteria Pervasively Contaminating Chinese Drywall Conclusively Identified
RealTime Laboratories, LLC announced today significant new findings regarding pervasive bacterial presence unique to contaminated drywall.
Revamp of Oklahoma Workers’ Comp System Signed by Governor
Legislation intended to improve the Oklahoma workers’ compensation system for injured workers was signed into law June 11 by Gov. Brad Henry.
Lawyer for Alleged Ponzi Schemer Stanford Accused of Insurance Fraud
The judge handling the criminal case against accused Ponzi schemer Allen Stanford is allowing parties to review documents related to allegations that the Texas financier’s lawyers engaged in insurance fraud.
Rigger Faces Trial in Deadly New York City Crane Collapse
It was one of the nation’s deadliest construction crane accidents: A 200-foot-tall rig crashed down on a dense city block, killing seven people, leaving a gash of destruction near the United Nations and raising questions about the safety of the steel spindles that build skyscrapers.
News Release: Kingsway Announces Intention to Dispose of Mendota Insurance Company
Kingsway Financial Services Inc. today announced its intention to sell its wholly owned subsidiary, Mendota Insurance Company, a non-standard insurance writer in the US, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota. Any proposed transaction would be subject to regulatory approvals.
Only Republicans Running for Kansas Insurance Post
Voters in Kansas’ Aug. 3 Republican primary will probably decide the insurance commissioner’s race. No Democratic, Libertarian or Reform Party candidates filed for the office before the June 10 deadline.
Seeing Threat to Individual Policies, State Officials Urge a Gradual Route to Change
State insurance officials say they fear that health insurance companies will cancel policies and leave the individual insurance market in some states because of a provision of the new health care law that requires insurers to spend more of each premium dollar for the benefit of consumers.
Task Force Plans For Review Of RBC System
A panel at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners wants a sister panel to help it review the methods used to calculate risk-based capital ratios and set RBC requirements.
Marsh Report Examines Need for Innovation in Captives
A report from Marsh’s London office examines the changing need and conditions affecting captive insurance companies.
China’s Insurance Market: Lessons from Taiwan
As China and Taiwan reach “basic agreement” on a new trade deal, the island’s insurance sector is already influencing the vast Chinese market
The countdown to the moment when China’s economy surpasses that of the U.S. seems a long way off.
News Release: Insurance Agents Get Their First iPhone Application
The first-ever iPhone application for insurance agents called LeadsROI was created by InsuranceLeads.com.
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