Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, May 12
May 12, 2009
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Above: Florida Governor Charlie Crist began his bid for a Senate Seat at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee. Credit: Mark Wallheiser/Reuters
Governor Crist Appoints Interim Emergency Managers
Governor Charlie Crist today appointed Ruben Almaguer as Interim Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and David Halstead as Interim Deputy Director of the agency.
Condos at risk during storm season
It’s been nearly four years since the winds of Hurricane Wilma passed over Miami-Dade County, but the residents of Buckley Towers still feel the storm every day.
Editorial: Free-market remedy for insurance mess
Florida is rapidly approaching the moment when it will either grow a market of financially sound companies to sell property insurance, or it will fall to the state to provide coverage for all.
Four charged with 144 felonies in workers’ comp case
Four owners and managers of an Orange County demolition company have been charged with 144 felony counts in what prosecutors are calling a multimillion-dollar workers’ compensation fraud case.
Senator’s drywall idea fails smell test
Crafty. State Sen. Mike Bennett is nothing if not crafty.
Winter Haven to Return Car Crash Fees
City commissioners Monday night unanimously approved a plan to pay back $16,231 to motorists billed through a motor vehicle crash fee intended to recover costs for Winter Haven firefighters and police officers to respond to crashes.
Louisiana‘s Senator Vitter agrees to lift hold on FEMA nominee
A Louisiana Republican agreed Tuesday to stop blocking the White House’s pick to lead FEMA – Florida’s Craig Fugate — amid bipartisan criticism that he was leaving the agency vulnerable just a few weeks away from hurricane season.
Hurricane center debuts new forecasting tools
The National Hurricane Center is rolling out several new hurricane forecasting products this year and honing some of their prediction methods.
Broward jury awards widow of smoker $1.5 million
A Broward jury awarded a Hollywood widow about $1.5 for million for the death of her husband, who died of lung cancer at the age of 69 in 1996 after smoking three to four packs of Winston cigarettes a day.
Gov. Charlie Crist announces bid for U.S. Senate
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he will run for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
In a news release from the Republican Party of Florida e-mailed at 9:12 a.m., Gov. Charlie Crist confirmed the worst-kept secret in Florida politics: He’ll run for the seat to be vacated by the retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
Crist Move Could Produce 13th District Open Seat
With Florida Gov. Charlie Crist jumping into the open-seat Senate race today, a cascade of dominoes are expected to begin falling across the Sunshine State as federal and state candidates begin to reshuffle their 2010 electoral plans.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink expected to seek Crist’s job
While mum on speculation she might run for governor, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink took a shot at potential gubernatorial rival Bill McCollum Monday at a Forum Club lunch.
Guv preview? McCollum pushes back at Sink
Attorney General Bill McCollum will wait until next week to announce whether he’s running for governor, but he’s not waiting to push back against criticism from Chief Financial Officer and potential gubernatorial rival Alex Sink.
Iorio, Baker put political speculation about their plans to rest
Two local mayors on Monday ended speculation about their political plans: Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, a Democrat, announced she won’t run for state or national office in 2010, and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker said he will not seek to replace Charlie Crist as governor.
Florida-Seminole Tribe gambling compact still has hurdles to clear
Don’t look for the South Florida gambling scene to change anytime soon, despite last week’s vote by the state Legislature. There’s still a tribal evaluation, another legislative vote and then some furniture to be moved.
Sen. Ken Pruitt’s early retirement will mean a short, open political race
The retirement of state Sen. Ken Pruitt with more than one year left on his four-year term means the governor will call a special election for later this year to fill the seat.
Florida to receive $1.8 billion in stimulus funds
The federal government released $1.8 billion in stimulus money for education to Florida on Monday, two weeks after the state applied for a waiver required because the state underfunded education in previous years.
New Everglades land deal could ease restoration
Changes in the pending land deal with U.S. Sugar could clear the way for faster, easier land swaps with rival growers for Everglades restoration.
If water managers approve the smaller, cheaper version of Gov. Charlie Crist’s Big Sugar land deal Wednesday, they won’t be done dealing.
U.S. Justice Department Plans New Antitrust Effort
The Justice Department warned corporate America on Monday that the government will aggressively investigate big firms that improperly dominate markets.
Michigan high court will hear credit scoring case
The Michigan Supreme Court will consider whether insurance companies can use customers’ credit scores to set home and auto insurance premiums.
NCOIL Writes House Panel On Insurance Reform
The National Conference of Insurance Legislators announced it has written a House committee advising that proposals for financial services regulatory reform should involve state and federal regulators as equal partners.
AIG’s Liddy To Outline Spinoffs, Breakup Plans To House Panel
American International Group’s game plan going forward is to establish “separate identities” for its “best businesses” and to shut down its financial products unit, company Chairman and CEO Edward Liddy is expected to tell a House panel Wednesday.
S&P rates insurer USAA’s planned catastrophe bond
Standard & Poor’s has assigned preliminary ratings to insurer USAA’s forthcoming $150 million catastrophe bond, the credit rating agency said.
PERI Launches Nonprofit Risk Management Web Site
The nonprofit Public Entity Risk Institute said today it has launched a Web site to help small- and medium-size nonprofit organizations assess their insurance needs and submit requests for insurance quotes to participating insurers.
State Insurance Regulators Say Health Care Reform Must Address Costs
Testifying on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger stressed that any health care reform out of Washington must address soaring costs.
MMC Settles With Conn. Over Bid-Rigging Allegations
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. will pay the state of Connecticut $2.4 million to settle allegations of bid-rigging, price-fixing and illegally steering business to insurers who wrote policies for public, private and nonprofit entities throughout the state.
FTC close to bringing action against companies randomly calling about auto warranties
Federal regulators have been investigating and are close to filing lawsuits against companies believed to be behind a national wave of spam “robocalls” that warn people that their auto warranties are about to expire and they need to sign up for new service plans.
An Awakened Washington Promises More Stress for Directors & Officers
Corporations and their directors and officers are living in fear.
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