Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, June 23
Jun 23, 2009
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State Farm Says It Will Reconsider Florida Exit If Rates Deregulated
Florida’s biggest private insurer of property, State Farm Florida, has told Gov. Charlie Crist it would “be willing to re-examine its options” and its decision to leave the state’s home insurance market if he signs a bill on his desk designed to deregulate rates for large insurance companies.
State Rep. Wood Worries About Losing State Farm Jobs
State Rep. John Wood was slightly nervous Monday, not so much about addressing the Tiger Bay Club as a freshman in the Legislature, but about the bill on which he worked so hard possibly being vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist this week.
Citizens Insurance Rate Increase Battle Brewing
Thousands of homeowners across Florida may wind up getting vastly different rate increases from the state’s largest property insurance provider, and not the 10 percent increase many may have been expecting.
Cocoa Beach gets graphic about storm surge
Colors on signs indicate flooding scenarios
Not convinced that you should evacuate the barrier island during a hurricane, even when a storm surge is predicted? City officials hope yellow, orange or red tape markings on stop signs and street posts in neighborhoods might lead some to rethink their positions of staying put when a hurricane approaches and a storm surge is expected.
Director of hurricane center: Predictions should be used for entertainment only
While the first named tropical storm of the hurricane season swirled off the southwest coast of Mexico on Monday morning, the director of the National Hurricane Center spoke of the nuances of analyzing hurricane predictions.
In visit to Manatee, Lt. Gov. stresses storm preparation
Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp liked what he saw in Manatee’s new emergency operations center, but he says he is still not at ease with residents’ preparations as this year’s hurricane season heads into its second month.
Fla. court rules against generic drug maker
A Florida law banning the substitution of certain drugs must be followed even if a generic version gets federal approval, a state appellate court ruled Monday.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, CFO Alex Sink Launch ‘United We Serve’ Initiative in Orlando
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Florida CFO Alex Sink today helped launch President Barack Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative in Florida during a visit to the Orlando Emergency Operations Center.
Florida port ID bill falls short of industry’s expectations
With a federal access card required to enter Florida seaports since January, maritime businesses and port officials lobbied hard in Tallahassee to eliminate a state-mandated ID card.
Deland developer sets sights on governor run
Michael Arth is an enigma — at once driven and intellectual, hands-on, somewhat eccentric, a nomadic jack of all trades.
Vero Beach attorney joins Republican race to replace Poppell as state representative
Attorney Erin Grall has become the fourth Republican to file for state Rep. Ralph Poppell’s open seat in the state House next year.
Four Amendments OK’d For 2010 Ballot
Four amendments were certified by Secretary of State Kurt Browning on Monday for Florida’s 2010 ballot, with the first three proposed by the Legislature and the fourth through a petition drive.
New Group On Accounting Standards Formed With GNAIE
The Group of North American Insurance Enterprises said it has joined a new coalition to work with accounting organizations to reform accounting standards linked to the financial crisis.
Fed says central OTC clearing would curb market risk
Centralized clearing of over-the-counter derivatives would help to reduce the risk that these instruments pose to the wider financial system, a senior Federal Reserve official said on Monday.
Securities Arbitration Is Faulted
Attorneys who represent investors have asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to drop a requirement that a securities-industry representative sit on arbitration panels.
Prepare for Hurricanes by Safeguarding Tax Records
With the 2009 hurricane season now underway, the Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to safeguard themselves by taking a few simple steps.
States Exert More Controls On Insurers, Consumers, Says Study
The role of government in the American insurance market increased in 2008, according to a 50-state study released by two conservative think tanks.
How Hurricane Ike demolished a Texas city’s tax base
Hurricane Ike’s been making things difficult for the people who put together budgets for the cities of Clear Lake, of course, but who’s got it worst?
Congressional Budget Office: Climate bill costs to be modest
A nonpartisan congressional study projects only modest household cost increases as a result of a Democratic proposal to limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contradicting claims by many Republican lawmakers that the climate legislation amounts to a huge energy tax on average Americans.
OSHA Voluntary Workplace Safety Program Needs Oversight, Says Study
A federal government workplace safety program that relies upon voluntary cooperation by employers needs stepped-up oversight to assure that only qualified companies participate and that safety problems found in workplaces are fixed.
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