Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, January 19
Jan 19, 2011
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Southern Oak To Assume 14,000 Florida Last-Resort Insurer Policies
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said it has approved Southern Oak Insurance Company to take out 14,000 policies from the state’s last-resort insurer.
Blog: Insurance dropped on homes with Chinese drywall damage
Citizens Property Insurance, like many private insurers, is dropping some policies on homes with damage from Chinese drywall.
Repairs start at Sunrise canal that swallowed backyards
As repairs begin this week on the canal that gobbled six backyards, city officials say they may never know what caused the collapse.
About 50 people have red-light camera tickets dismissed in West Palm and Palm Springs
One brought her passport to prove she was in Spain when she was supposedly caught on camera running a red light at Australian Avenue and 25th Street in West Palm Beach.
More states join Florida lawsuit against healthcare law
The political sea change marked by the November elections on Tuesday pulled six more states into Florida’s lawsuit challenging the national healthcare legislation — making it one of the biggest tests of federal authority in the country’s history, with 26 states now in line.
State Farm sues doctors, who fight back
A contentious battle is heating up once again between State Farm Insurance Company and a group of doctors that the insurer alleges have been involved in a multimillion-dollar insurance fraud scheme, according to a lawsuit.
Pain clinics feel the impact of a new state law – for now
Florida’s pain management industry is starting to feel the effects of a new law that limits who can own pain clinics, part of an effort to stop unscrupulous operators notorious for dispensing huge amounts of prescription narcotics.
New Florida Cabinet confirms Environmental Agency Secretary at first meeting
The all-new Florida Cabinet held a very brief meeting this morning, the first since the all-GOP panel took office early this month.
New Department of Children and Families chief’s résumé mirrors Governor Rick Scott’s
Florida’s social services chief, lauded as a reformer, has been asked to leave, and his replacement comes with a vastly different set of experiences
Florida’s new social services chief will look a lot like the state’s new governor: Acorporate executive with conservative social roots.
Putnam Opposing Merger of Florida’s Citrus and Agriculture Departments
Agriculture chief says he would oppose any effort by governor to reorganize or disband group.
Governor Rick Scott’s plans for reforming state government may include merging the Bartow-based Florida Department of Citrus with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, now.
Jacksonville representative bows out of race to become state House speaker
But observers say they expect him to assume leadership roles
After doing the math and determining that his run at becoming House speaker in 2016 was going to come up short, state Representative Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, announced Tuesday he is no longer seeking the post.
Florida Representative William Snyder announces run for Martin County sheriff
State Representative William Snyder, R-Stuart, is looking to return to his prior job, this time as the boss.
South Florida to trail nation in job growth
South Florida will trail much of the nation in job growth the next five years, with other parts of the state rebounding at a faster pace, according to a new study.
A ‘most exciting day’: Vision Airlines announces Northwest Florida expansion, Governor touts job
The cat was out of the bag by the time Governor Rick Scott and local dignitaries announced Tuesday that Vision Airlines’ would make Northwest Florida Regional Airport its hub creation.
Florida Representative Mica: Governor Scott Will Support High Speed Rail if Business Pays
A consensus may be forming — which includes Governor Rick Scott — that a long-proposed Tampa to Orlando bullet train should roll if private businesses wants to pay for the remainder of the ride.
Florida House Democratic leader open to sales tax increase to pay for property tax cut
Florida House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said he could support a sales tax increase to help pay for a property tax cut that Republican Governor Rick Scott is pushing.
Florida legislator may dial back proposed Arizona-style law
Concern about scaring tourists and potential high-tech workers away from the Sunshine State is threatening passage of the Arizona-style immigration measure backed by Governor Rick Scott.
Scott dodges gay adoption question, says he’ll be ‘as accessible as possible’
Governor Rick Scott said he doesn’t have a policy yet on gay adoption, but reiterated on Wednesday that he believes “adoption should be by a married couple.”
Bill proposes giving undocumented students in-state tuition rates
For years, former state Representative Juan Carlos Zapata tried unsuccessfully to get his fellow Republicans in Tallahassee to pass a bill that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Florida’s public universities.
Water Management explores selling plane
South Florida Water Management District will explore selling the airplane used to ferry its officials across the state — an expense that through the years drew scrutiny from government auditors, state lawmakers and the Sun Sentinel.
Florida lawmaker pushes bill to end Florida Comprehensive Achievement test
A new state legislator has filed a bill to rid Florida’s schools of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test, saying they cause too much stress in students
Saying the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test creates more harm than good, a freshman state legislator said Tuesday she is championing a bill in the House that would do away with the annual state exams.
Broward Class-size penalties eased
Broward County schools received a slight reprieve Tuesday, when its punishments for failing to meet class size laws were scaled back.
Scott’s media limits upset journalists
Florida Governor Rick Scott’s team is imposing an unprecedented level of control over access to him and to events, journalists who cover the capital complain.
Journalists who cover Florida’s capital complained to industry leaders Tuesday that the new administration of Governor Rick Scott is skirting free-press traditions and attempting to control their work by limiting access to events and being slow to provide public records.
President Orders Regulatory Strategy To Support Growth
President Barack Obama’s executive order today to streamline federal agency regulations could have the effect of promoting greater regulatory efficiency for the insurance industry, an executive with an insurance association said.
Louisiana Citizens Seeks Nine Percent Personal Lines Increase
Louisiana’s last-resort insurer has filed an average nine percent rate increase request with the state’s insurance department for personal lines risks, including homeowners, mobile homes, dwelling and tenant risks.
Agents Notified of Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, Fair Plan Information Requests
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and Texas FAIR Plan Association recently notified insurance agents that the organizations have received a formal request to inspect or copy some of their files.
Mississippi Counties Oppose New Flood Insurance Maps
Two counties in the northeastern part of Mississippi are fighting flood zone designations on new maps that are part of a modernization program spearheaded by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
Senator Targets Workers’ Compensation Pay to Elderly Federal Employees
More than 1,000 federal workers aged 80 and older are receiving workers’ compensation benefits even though they likely have no intention of returning to work, according to a U.S. senator who wants to reduce the waste in the program that provides federal employees with protection against loss of income from work-related injuries.
Caught on Tape: Phony Falls that Cost You Money
Insurance Fraud Costs American Consumers $30 Billion Annually
In Phoenix Arizona, a horrible fall. A 39-year-old woman slips on a hot dog in a store. Paramedics rush in to help. It’s a cost of doing business: A customer falls – the business has to pay.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to bellis@cftlaw.com.