Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, Feb. 6

 

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Lawmakers schedule more hearings on property insurance rates

After two more days of grueling questions to state regulators and insurance company executives, a special Senate panel wrapped up its business Tuesday as confused as when it began.

Further testimony sought in rate hikes

Fears that insurance companies used fuzzy science to increase homeowner premiums despite state efforts to shoulder some of the private market’s risk helped persuade a panel of state lawmakers on Tuesday to lengthen the list of industry executives they’d like to put under oath.

Florida insurers used loophole in law to bypass required rate savings

It appears some of the state’s biggest insurers tried to use loopholes in a law to skirt a requirement that they pass savings from a state-backed financial safety net to homeowners.

Panel offers two remedies for insurance

Senate pitches using long-term models, cutting CAT Fund risk.

The Senate Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability closed a two-day hearing Tuesday with a pair of sweeping proposals that could profoundly change how insurers do business in Florida.

St. Pete insurance firm pleases state panel

A second day of hearings to determine why many homeowners haven’t seen the rate decreases lawmakers promised last year brought some familiar frustrations and a few surprises.

OPINION: Crisis maximus

Insurance path of no return hurts all

The opening scene of the Oscar-winning movie “Gladiator” pits the advancing Roman army against a horde of Germanic warriors unwilling to submit.

Confused Florida voters try to cast ballots in Super Tuesday primaries

The problem? Florida had its presidential primary LAST week.

Millions of Americans in 24 states are turning out vote to in Super Tuesday presidential primaries from Georgia to Alaska today.

State Fails To Track Inspection Savings

My Safe Florida Home officials like to brag about how much money the hurricane inspection and grant program is saving homeowners on their wind insurance premiums.

Appeals court rejects water settlement

Florida and Alabama argued that the Corps of Engineers gave Georgia too much water.
The water wars are over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint rivers system, whose flow is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Castor campaign to begin Feb. 21

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents a slice of northern Manatee County, plans to kick off her congressional campaign Feb. 21 at Valencia Gardens in Tampa.

Fitzgerald plans kickoff for state House re-election

Democratic Florida Rep. Keith Fitzgerald will kick off his re-election campaign for District 69 at the home of local supporters in Sarasota.

Lawmakers Unveil Plans To Curb Illegal Immigration

State lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a series of immigration-related bills aimed at making it tougher to hire illegal immigrants, limiting public services they can receive and penalizing anyone who brings them into Florida.

State receives ‘Blueprint Commission’ report

In one of his last acts before moving from Florida’s juvenile-justice system to the adult prisons, Walt McNeil presented a report Tuesday intended to keep thousands of young people from doing the same thing.

Universal North America to Acquire Policies from Houston General

Universal North America Insurance Company, with corporate offices in Texas and Florida, has agreed to acquire the renewal rights to approximately 11,500 policies from the personal lines portfolio of Canton, Mass.-based Houston General Insurance Exchange.

Tornadoes Rip Through South, Killing 47

Crews went door-to-door Wednesday searching debris for more victims of deadly tornadoes that ripped the roof off a shopping mall, pummeled mobile homes and blew apart warehouses as they tore across five states.

Clinton Suggests Tapping Wages of Those Who Won’t Buy Insurance

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said she might be willing to have workers’ wages garnisheed if they refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans.

Georgia: Insurance fraud unit short on results

A special state insurance fraud program with a $3 million budget investigates few cases and often lets the four-year statute of limitations run out on cases before any action is taken, according to a new state audit.

Fitch Puts MBIA Ratings On Negative Watch

Fitch Ratings said today that despite infusions of capital, the “AAA” ratings of Armonk, N.Y.-based MBIA Inc. and the bond insurer’s financial guaranty subsidiaries were being placed on Rating Watch Negative.

 

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