Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, April 8
Apr 8, 2009
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Do something about the CAT Fund now, Florida Taxpayers Union president urges
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund is a catastrophe; the $28 billion exposure associated with the CAT Fund needs to be reduced to protect Florida taxpayers.
Editorial: Reducing Florida’s risks
Property insurance legislation is painful but necessary
The Legislature is demonstrating that — despite its fear of touching the state’s broken tax system — it really is capable of making tough, potentially unpopular decisions for the right reasons.
Florida Hurricane Coalition: Florida plays ostrich in insurance crisis
As the 2009 Legislative session nears the finish line, our leaders’ strategic plan for dealing with hurricane insurance seems to be prayer – prayer that Floridians will again be spared a major hurricane this season.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today announced that the Office of Insurance Regulation has received $466,000 as Florida’s share of a multistate settlement agreement with Conseco Senior Health Insurance Co. and Bankers Life and Casualty Insurance Co., both subsidiaries of Conseco Inc., over alleged inappropriate business practices.
U.S. Rep. Wexler visits South Florida residents affected by Chinese drywall
The Banyan Isles subdivision within the enclave of Parkland’s Heron Bay is one of Broward’s most elite addresses.
BizPac: Help our businesses, not trial attorneys
While not done intentionally, some court decisions wreak widespread economic havoc. When that happens, it’s time for the Legislature to step in and make things right. About six months ago, the Florida Supreme Court decided a case that struck a body blow to Florida’s employers.
Three indicted in Medicare fraud scheme
Three South Florida men have been indicted for allegedly participating in a $12 million Medicare fraud scheme that provided medically unnecessary treatments for HIV and AIDS patients.
Legislators take break until Monday; a lot of work will be waiting for them
Florida legislators are headed home for the holidays.
House, Senate panels approve Florida budget
Appropriations panels in both Republican-controlled legislative chambers approved differing versions of Florida’s next state budget in contrasting styles Tuesday — unanimously in the Senate but on party line votes in the House.
Budget to rely on boost in fees
While Gov. Charlie Crist and most leaders in the Legislature have stridently opposed tax increases to alleviate a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall, both the governor and lawmakers are embracing huge increases in fees that will affect virtually every state resident.
Florida Senate makes it hard for Gov. Crist to say no to tobacco tax
As legislators signed off on rival spending plans Tuesday, the Senate showed its determination to force Gov. Charlie Crist to accept a tax on smokers – or risk a budget flame out.
Column: Legislative session ‘desultory and querulous’
What in the world are they doing up there in Tallahassee? Not much, judging by the list of the Legislature’s achievements over the past month.
Land-purchase option key to scaled-down sugar deal
Gov. Charlie Crist’s revamped deal with U.S. Sugar has become much cheaper — whacking the price tag and acreage by more than half — but it contains a critical provision that may ultimately determine its value to Everglades restoration.
Orlando Commuter Rail Deal Still Stalled
After two years of intense lobbying and scrutiny, lawmakers pushing for a commuter rail system in Orlando are no closer to the goal with only three weeks until their deadline.
Cabinet hopeful announces fundraising totals
U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam is reporting a good fundraising start for his bid to become Florida’s next agriculture commissioner.
Double-dip bill clears Florida Senate panel
Would bar getting salary, pension at the same time
A bill to stop public employees from piling up fat pension payouts, then returning to work after a monthlong break, cleared another Senate committee hurdle Tuesday.
U.S. Treasury to extend aid to life insurers
Firms Face Capital Crunch; How Much They Will Get From TARP Remains Unclear
The Treasury Department has decided to extend bailout funds to a number of struggling life-insurance companies, helping an industry that is a linchpin of the U.S. financial system, people familiar with the matter said.
Brokers Fear Many Insurers Are Ignorant of Annuity Risks
More than 70% of financial advisers in a recent survey said they were concerned about the risks insurers have taken on with guaranteed-minimum variable annuities — and nearly a third said they doubted the insurers themselves understood those risks.
Galveston oceanographer says his proposed wall and gate system could repel most surges
Protecting the Texas coastal region from a hurricane’s storm surge, says William Merrell of Texas A&M University at Galveston, is simple: Extend Galveston’s seawall to the island’s West End, build a similar structure along Bolivar Peninsula and construct massive Dutch-like floodgates at the entry to Galveston Bay.
Texas Lawmakers debate windstorm insurance
Texas legislators jumped into debate Tuesday over how to improve the troubled windstorm insurance system that serves as a last resort for hurricane protection along much of the Gulf Coast.
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