Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, February 11
Feb 11, 2009
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Florida Approves 6.4% Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rate Hike
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has approved a 6.4 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates. The increase applies to new and renewal business and will become effective April 1.
Think Tank Scores Fla.’s McCarty For Cat Fund Lobbying Effort
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty tried to lobby Congress today for federal supports for an $18.5 billion shortfall in the state’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and was hit with criticism from a conservative think tank.
EDITORIAL: Florida senator whiffs while playing ‘revenge’ card against State Farm
Plan to strong-arm State Farm may cut other insurance options for Floridians
State Sen. Mike Fasano is mad and he’s not going to take it anymore.
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANSON: Give insurers incentives to operate in Florida
Kudos to the Herald-Tribune and writers Paige St. John and Lloyd Dunkelberger for bringing to our attention a subject that has been bothersome to many of us who have spent our careers in the insurance business; The Florida Catastrophe Fund.
Politicians, editorialists and citizens have weighed in on the recent decision by State Farm to withdraw from Florida’s property insurance market.
Florida emergency chief may be in line for top FEMA post
Craig Fugate, who led Florida’s disaster response during the eight hurricanes that ravaged the state in two years, might soon face one of his toughest challenges yet: leading the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
West Miami seeks vendors for safety camera program
The West Miami city commission is soliciting vendors for its traffic safety camera program, which was approved last month.
West Miami city leaders are requesting sealed proposals from qualified vendors to inaugurate a traffic safety camera program.
Legislators, Attorney General Unveil Legislation to Strengthen Florida Investor Laws
New law would broaden the state’s ability to pursue securities fraud
Attorney General Bill McCollum today joined Senator Garrett Richter and Representative Tom Grady to unveil a legislative proposal to strengthen Florida’s laws protecting securities investors.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida enrolls 266 uninsured
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, one of just two insurers selling Cover Florida health insurance statewide, has signed up 266 people since the program championed by Gov. Charlie Crist was launched Jan. 5.
Crist backs Obama, Martinez votes ‘no’
As Gov. Charlie Crist stumped alongside President Obama at a town hall in Florida and touting his economic stimulus plan, the man he has tried to lobby for days was in the Senate chamber voting against it.
2 economic-stimulus plans: Which is best for Florida?
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday agreed to an $838 billion economic-stimulus plan that would pump billions of dollars into government programs while extending tax breaks to a broad range of consumers.
Florida legislator sounds budget alert
Florida’s foundering economy will soon plunge the state budget back into the red, a leading legislator said Monday in warning of more difficult times ahead.
To visit Florida, call Missouri, where telemarketers were hired by Sunshine State
Senators tore into the state’s tourism chief Tuesday after he revealed that Florida hired a call center in Missouri to market Florida as a vacation destination.
Florida’s budget crisis may be too severe to continue the cost of supplying a round-the-clock security guard and personal escort for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, the Senate budget chief said Monday. ‘I haven’t learned about too many lieutenant governors being accosted lately,’ said Sen. J.D. Alexander, the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Former State Representative Jack Seiler wins race for Fort Lauderdale mayor
Jack Seiler, a former state legislator known for consensus building, will replace term-limited Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, whose tenure was marked by discord.
The Obama administration is looking at all offshore energy reserves including off Florida
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he has ordered a review of the nation’s known offshore energy reserves and that the waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico off Florida should be “on the table” as the Obama administration devises a comprehensive energy plan.
Proposed law could scuttle Everglades land-purchase deal
State legislators could use a bill filed Tuesday to try to cut off the money for Gov. Charlie Crist’s $1.34 billion Everglades land buy.
Surplus Lines Reform Legislation Reintroduced in Congress
Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services have announced plans they will introduce legislation that will create national standards for how states regulate the surplus lines market and reinsurance as well as a uniform system of surplus lines premium tax allocation and remittance.
Firms Must Improve Data To Pass Rating Firm Checks, Says RMS
Newark, Calif.-based modeling firm Risk Management Solutions (RMS) said today it has developed strategies to help clients prepare for the increased rating firm scrutiny.
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