Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, June 5
Jun 5, 2007
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Lawyers warn against limiting owners’ rights
TALLAHASSEE — Facing criticism for thousands of 2004 and 2005 hurricane claims still open, Citizens Property Insurance seeks to hobble the lawyers and freelance adjusters it alleges are whipping up disputes in order to pocket large fees.
Legislators don’t agree on the price tag or the specific policies for property tax cuts, but they agreed Monday on this much: when voters should decide on the plan.
They chose Jan. 29, the same day as the Florida presidential primary.
Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday appointed attorney Patrick Rooney of West Palm Beach and environmental consultant Melissa Meeker of Stuart to the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District.
Chief for FEMA grants program changed
The Federal Emergency Management Agency named a new Florida coordinator Monday for its program to bolster buildings and improve drainage. The director quit Friday amid complaints about the program’s pace.
Union Leader Says FEMA Is Trying to Oust Him
A union leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency filed a complaint yesterday saying that FEMA is trying to force him out of his job because he urged Congress to take the agency out of the Department of Homeland Security.
Vote today: Florida Senate District 3 special election
Residents of Senate District 3 can go to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today in Leon County to vote in the primary election.
House, Senate leaders discuss property taxes behind closed doors
TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s massive property-tax overhaul would share the ballot with the presidential candidates during the Jan.29 primary under a tentative deal reached Monday by leading lawmakers.
Property tax reform should exempt independent fire districts, official says
Whatever property tax reform state lawmakers choose should exempt independent fire districts, local leaders told Sen. Burt Saunders during a town hall meeting in Fort Myers on Monday.
Speaker: Taxes more than a homestead issue
Taxpayers packed the Coffee Cup on Monday morning with a passionate message: Cut property taxes and cut them now.
House speaker bets political future on tax plan
TALLAHASSEE — Marco Rubio put himself among Florida’s most ambitious House leaders when he published a book of 100 ideas to serve as his agenda during his two years as speaker.
Reinsurance Collateral Change Talk At NAIC
SAN FRANCISCO —Insurance regulators meeting here approved continuing efforts to develop a Reinsurance Evaluation Office, but raised new questions of how the project would fit into an overall reform of secondary insurance regulation.
2 Lawmakers Penetrate NAIC Locked-Door Session
SAN FRANCISCO—Two key state legislators who are demanding that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners end locked-door proceedings managed to get by a security guard yesterday and secure admittance to part of a closed NAIC executive session here.
Washington must adopt catastrophe fund
The 2007 hurricane season has arrived, and we believe it will play a pivotal role in electing the next U.S. President. Any candidate who has aspirations to win the Florida primary and the general election had better champion the issue of national catastrophic insurance. It’s the one issue in Florida that transcends party affiliation and socioeconomic status.
LONDON (Reuters) – Royal Bank of Scotland said it was not in talks with Bank of America regarding an attempt to resolve the purchase of LaSalle Bank, the U.S. arm of ABN AMRO which is a subject of dispute in the proposed RBS buyout of ABN.
Medicare service cuts loom unless Congress acts by Jan. 1
Your doctor may be among the 14 percent who said they would quit taking care of patients altogether if Medicare reimbursement to physicians nationwide is slashed 10 percent next year.
Oil steadies above $70 as cyclone reaches Oman
LONDON (Reuters) – Oil pulled back slightly but remained above $70 on Tuesday as a powerful cyclone reached the coastline of Oman and shut its oil and gas export terminals.
Drought Damages Crops Across Georgia
OMEGA, Ga. (AP) — The sky above Randy Scarbor’s south Georgia cantaloupe fields was overcast, but the clouds were from massive wildfires to the east. No rain was forecast for the last day in May, a month that set records for dry conditions in Georgia.
Venture Fund to Seek Out Cost Cutters in Health Care
Venture investment in the health business typically chases miracle cures and high-technology gadgets, like bioengineered drugs and new medical devices. They promise much but cost a lot.
Global warming. Energy conservation. Despite the concerns about the environment, Florida Power & Light says we can’t survive without coal.
Rayburn Butts wanted to tell everyone at the Climate Change Conference about what his company was doing to combat global warming.