Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, April 16

 

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Allstate’s Appeal Buys It Some More Time to Write Florida Policies

Allstate Insurance Corp. bought itself at least two more days to keep peddling new policies in Florida.

Tougher regulation of appraisers urged

Sen. Martinez, R-Fla., introduced legislation on Tuesday to clamp down on the home appraisal industry that lawmakers say contributed to severe mortgage woes.

Allstate’s CEO aims to ensure its future

Wilson adds products to counter tough times

Despite racking up its second-highest profit ever, Allstate Corp.’s shareholder return fell 17 percent last year, worse than the 13 percent decline in Standard & Poor’s index of property and casualty insurers.

Legislators may not renew school, storm tax holidays

Florida’s popular sales tax holiday for back-to-school supplies is in jeopardy.

Hurricanes Spawn Products

Science may never devise a way to control hurricanes, but technology is evolving to deal with the aftermath.

Rouson takes District 55 easily

Darryl Rouson, a St. Petersburg lawyer and activist, won election by a wide margin Tuesday to the District 55 seat in the Florida House.

Bill would make constitutional changes harder

A bill that could make it harder for citizens to change the Florida Constitution using petitions has won approval from a House panel.

Senate committee passes bill calling for legislative approval of compacts

Next time Gov. Charlie Crist wants to sign a compact — with an Indian tribe or another state — he’d have to get legislative approval, under a measure now moving through the Florida Senate.

Agency under fire gives out $28,000 in bonuses

The State Board of Administration, which put $1.2 billion in local government tax collections at risk of being devoured by the U.S. mortgage crisis, has paid more than $28,000 in bonuses this year to employees for their ‘teamwork’ and ‘superior accomplishments,’ state records show.

Florida Insurance Officials Under Fire for Mediation

A law firm that specializes in representing policyholders who have experienced catastrophe claims has filed a lawsuit against several Florida insurance officials for allegedly failing to notify homeowners that they could utilize mediation to resolve claims arising out of the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season.

House panel OKs revenue cap, prospects dim in Senate

A cap on state and local government taxes, fees and other revenues won approval from a House panel Tuesday and now heads to the full chamber, but its prospects in the Senate are dim.

EDITORIAL: Florida’s future and lives on the line

Leadership Lacking in Tough Fiscal Times

Fewer state prosecutors, no hospice services for the poor, less protection for children at risk of abuse — this is what Florida faces with the budget proposals approved by state legislators last week.

Crist poised to stub out extra $1 tax on cigarettes

A bid to hike Florida’s cigarette taxes by $1 a pack was approved by a Senate panel on Tuesday, but the measure appears all but certain to get snuffed out.

Gov. signs guns at work bill

Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill into law on Tuesday that will allow Florida residents to keep guns locked in their cars at work.

Senate scolds Florida tomato growers

A Senate panel singled out Florida tomato growers for abusive conditions he said are widespread among Immokalee workers, whom he compared to modern-day slaves.

Ultrasound-abortion bill splits state GOP

A top Republican senator is working behind the scenes with Democrats to defeat an abortion measure sponsored by the leader of his own party in the Senate.

Legislative roundup: Proposed prison cuts spark protests

The potential juxtaposition that Florida will build more prison beds next year but cut correctional and probation officer jobs and eliminate inmate drug abuse programs is touching off a wave of opposition, including from the governor’s office.

State energy bill has something for everyone

Gov. Charlie Crist’s grand energy schemes, founded on high ideals in VIP-packed ballrooms, have come to this: a kitchen sink of a bill, stretching more than 150 pages, so crammed with jargon that you have to be paid to read it.

EU, U.S. aim to break reinsurer reserves deadlock

European Union and U.S. officials will meet next month to try to end a longstanding bone of contention over how much reserves EU reinsurers must set aside in the United States to cover potential payouts.

New Orleans: Allstate’s Online Posting Skips Over Catastrophe Claims

The 150,000 pages of documents that Allstate Corp. posted on its Web site in response to a growing public relations storm contain mind-numbing documents on processing auto insurance and homeowners claims, but nothing about the issue that is most important to people hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita: how the company handles catastrophe claims.

Public Adjusters Could Face Regulation in Illinois

A bill proposed by Illinois Rep. Edward J. Acevedo would amend the state’s insurance code by revamping the requirements necessary for public adjusters to operate in the state.

USGS Study Will Factor Into Earthquake Rates

California ’s earthquake insurer said a government study, finding a high probability of a major earthquake hitting the state in the next 30 years, will be factored into the rates it charges.

 

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