Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, April 14
Apr 14, 2010
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State-backed Citizens Insurance says it could weather up to $14 billion hurricane
State-backed property insurer Citizens Insurance is flush with cash and can weather a 25-year storm, and wouldn’t have to levy assessments until it has a $14 billion storm, the agency told the governor and Cabinet Tuesday.
Senate Panel Votes to Deregulate Property Insurance
A Senate committee voted Tuesday to allow private insurers to raise their residential property insurance rates.The Senate General Government Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a measure by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, to allow certain insurers to raise residential insurance by as much 10 percent and limit the power of the state Office of Insurance Regulation.
Florida’s Northern Capital to Be Liquidated; All Policies End May 30
Judge James O. Shelfer of the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida has ordered Miami-based Northern Capital Insurance Co. into receivership for the purpose of rehabilitation.
Insurance Bill Heads to Crist Despite Likely Veto
Governor has indicated he also may kill the controversial education bill SB 6.
While Gov. Charlie Crist may be headed to a showdown with the Legislature over a teacher tenure bill, another confrontation with a far-reaching impact could soon reach the governor. Legislation that would loosen the state’s ability to control property insurance rates is moving through the Legislature. Crist has declared that he is likely to veto a bill that increases insurance rates.
Legislature, Crist on collision course over insurance bill
The Legislature is setting a collision course with Gov. Charlie Crist on a bill that would allow insurance companies to raise rates up to 20 percent a year on individual policyholders without regulatory approval.
Convinced that if legislators actually read the details these changes would never be proposed
AAPIA, a nationally known association serving public insurance adjusters, is aggressively on record opposing HB 1181 and Senate Bill 2264, two Florida legislative bills that would significantly dilute consumer protections and defy commonsense if they were passed; AAPIA has faith that once Florida legislators understand the ramifications of each, the bills will be swiftly relegated to the dustbin of Tallahassee.
Driving And Phone Use Being Targeted
Sen. Dan Gelber’s call to prohibit a person younger than 18 from using a cell phone while driving was successful Tuesday when the measure (SB 522) was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill is one of a series of bills moving in the Senate this year to deal with cell phone use in cars.
States’ health reform challenge heads to court today
Hearing today in lawsuit filed by attorneys general
The first hearing in a nationwide lawsuit that seeks to strike down key elements of the recently enacted health care reform law is set for today in Pensacola.
Florida Healthcare Entrepreneur Back in Business
Armed with $150 million in investor money, veteran entrepreneur Miguel “Mike” Fernandez charged back into the health insurance market in a big way Tuesday with the purchase of Total Health Choice, betting that Medicaid HMOs are about to undergo a major expansion Total Health has 40,000 members in South Florida in Medicaid, the Florida Healthy Kids program and commercial insurance.
In a win for the Florida Medical Association, both the House and Senate have dropped proposals that would have limited physicians who dispense controlled drugs to 72 hours’ worth.
Medicare fraud targeted in bill by South Florida congresspeople Klein and Ros-Lehtinen
In the heart of the Medicare fraud capital of the nation, two South Florida members of Congress declared war Tuesday.
Florida among states that might expand nurses’ role
With a looming shortage of primary care doctors, 28 states, including Florida, are considering expanding the authority of nurse practitioners. These nurses with advanced degrees want the right to practice without a doctor’s watchful eye and to prescribe narcotics. And if they hold a doctorate, they want to be called “Doctor.”
Florida Agency on Health Care Administration chief Arnold vote: Policy or politics?
When a Senate committee voted today against the confirmation of Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Tom Arnold, the question started swirling in the Capitol: Was it because of policy or politics?
Obama critic Scott enters Florida GOP gubernatorial race
At least one Florida Republican didn’t like his choices for governor in the GOP primary. So he’s going to run himself.
Gaetz wins seat held by former Florida House Speaker
Staunchly Republican Northwest Florida showed it remains red to the core Tuesday as GOP candidate Matt Gaetz was elected to succeed Ray Sansom in state House District 4.
Democrat wins Florida US House special election
Florida Democratic state Sen. Ted Deutch handily won Tuesday’s special election to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler after his underdog GOP opponent attempted to make the contest a referendum on the massive health care bill.
Joe Garcia plans 2nd run for Congress
Former Miami-Dade Democratic party chief Joe Garcia resigned Tuesday from the Obama administration to jump into a hotly contested race for a congressional seat in Miami.
Alex Sink keeps fundraising lead in gubernatorial race, but gap tightens
The fundraising gap between gubernatorial candidates Bill McCollum and Alex Sink has tightened, according to the latest reports, but Sink still leads.
Tallahassee looks at insurance hikes, oil drilling, PSC appointees
Oil drilling. Insurance rate increases. Travel to Cuba. A power struggle between the governor and Senate.
Yup, it’s Wednesday, when lawmakers cram as many bits of legislation into the calendar as possible so that they have an excuse to take off Friday and go home.
Merit-pay frenzy: ‘I’ve never seen it this intense,’ Crist says
Governor is being lobbied by business leaders, teachers, relatives – and former Gov Jeb Bush
The deadline for Gov. Charlie Crist to decide the future of a landmark teacher merit-pay bill ends in just days – and the push to convince him to sign or veto the legislation is in full frenzy mode.
Bill tightens pretrial release in Florida
Those seeking supervised release before a trial may soon find a harder path. On Monday, a committee of the Florida House approved a bill that could add statewide rules for granting pretrial release.
Nonjudicial foreclosure bill dies in Florida House committee
Proposed legislation that would allow banks to foreclose on Florida homes without going to court died in a House committee Monday, giving supporters scant hope for success this year.
Florida dog tracks and jai alai frontons offered tax break
A Florida Senate committee offered a last-ditch handout to Florida’s ailing dog tracks and jai alai frontons Tuesday, passing a bill to give them a tax break to make it easier to compete with the growing gambling presence of the Seminole Tribe.
News Release: Attorney General Applauds Signing of Law to Promote Transparency, Accountability
Attorney General Bill McCollum today applauded the signing of the Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting Act (SB 712/HB 437), a new law that will promote transparency and accountability in contingency fee contracts between the Attorney General’s Office and outside counsel.
Obama expected to save Orion, bolster jobs at Kennedy Space Center
Under pressure from Congress and space boosters from across the country, President Barack Obama is expected to announce Thursday that he plans to revive part of the Constellation moon program, start a new heavy-rocket development project and create a $40 million initiative to help Kennedy Space Center workers find jobs after the space shuttle is retired later this year.
Florida Public Service Commission appointees getting Senate hearing
Gov. Charlie Crist’s two new appointees to the Florida Public Service Commission are set for a Senate confirmation hearing.
WSJ: Crist Advisers See Path to Senate Outside GOP
Florida Governor Insists Independent Bid Isn’t in the Cards Despite Conservative Primary Opponent’s Big Lead in Polls
Hounded by conservative activists as too liberal, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is being advised by some close supporters to abandon his lagging Republican primary bid for a U.S. Senate seat and run instead as an independent.
Chances appear better this year for abortion limits, school prayer and school vouchers
Abortion, school prayer and school vouchers are perennial issues that conservative lawmakers try to advance and Democrats consistently oppose.
State Farm stiff-arms Texas regulators, but insurer says it’s protecting clients
To leading lawmakers and even some insurance industry experts, State Farm hasn’t exactly been like a good neighbor in recent dealings with state regulators.
Hundreds near water in Texas losing coverage
Hundreds of State Farm customers in the Houston area are starting to get cancellation notices as the insurer continues a retreat from the Texas coast.
Allstate seeks to expand brand in Texas
Allstate Insurance Co. plans to recruit as many as 187 agency owners in Texas this year, including 45 from Central Texas.
Hit-and-run, and escape in Texas
It’s a crime that has seriously injured or killed more than 100 people around Houston since ’08, and more than half the drivers got away with it
Favorable rates spur catastrophe bond issues: Analysis
Catastrophe bond activity likely will gain momentum in the second quarter of 2010 amid ongoing favorable market conditions for sponsors, according to an analysis released Tuesday.
Insurance Industry Urged to Explore Alternatives to Credit Scoring
With the use of credit scoring still under attack, the insurance industry would be wise to consider new ways to assess risk, according to an industry actuary.
The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans has asked the Louisiana Recovery Authority to spend about $100 million to fix Louisiana homes with corrosive drywall manufactured in China, or about 20 times more than what the Legislature has currently allocated to address the problem.
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