Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, January 21

Jan 21, 2009

 

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Florida municipality hopes insurers will pay for canal car retrievals

The Margate Fire-Rescue Department may start charging $1,000 to recover cars from its canals.

 

Lennar to replace Chinese drywall in homes

Builder to pay for the relocation of dozens

Residents inhabiting a dozen Southwest Florida homes are being relocated so the builder, Lennar Homes, can rip out Chinese drywall that corrodes interior fixtures and may cause long-term health hazards.

 

Mental Health Advocates Speak Out to State Legislators Against Cuts

Mental health advocates packed the room Tuesday to argue against cuts in programs that help people suffering from mental illness and substance abuse.

 

Wall Street Pounds Florida’s Big Banks

Fears of a widening global banking crisis made for a brutal Tuesday on Wall Street, particularly for big banks active in Florida.

 

Mack, McCollum best known among GOP voters

If the race for retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’s seat were held today, Florida voters would be choosing from among a group of potential candidates unknown to most.

 

Crist hears home builders

George Hansford, president of the Home Builders Association of Lake-Sumter, was among a group of Florida home builders who met with Gov. Charlie Crist last week.

 

Sansom:  New taxes won’t solve state’s economic problems

— Fresh from a painful $2.6 billion budget-balancing exercise, and facing a potential $4 billion shortfall in the upcoming budget year, House Speaker Ray Sansom is more determined than ever to hold the line on taxes.

 

At Crist’s request, new batch of judicial nominees is diverse

Judges from Orlando, Sanford and DeLand are among a diverse batch of seven applicants seeking a Florida Supreme Court vacancy.

 

Quinnipiac poll:  Crist still enjoying high rate of approval

President Barack Obama would be pleased to know that some political honeymoons can last a long time. Just ask Gov. Charlie Crist.

A poll released this morning by Quinnipiac University shows that Gov. Charlie Crist is still riding sky high approval ratings, and is more popular, at least in Florida, than the newly inaugurated president.

 

That’s the ticket:  Kottkamp predicts he and Gov. Crist are back in 2010

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp said Tuesday he expects to be part of a ticket when he and Gov. Charlie Crist run for re-election in 2010.

 

EPA planning new cap on Florida river pollution

Saying Florida’s rivers and lakes are threatened by its growth, the federal government plans to set new limits on nitrogen and phosphorous allowed in waterways.

 

SEC Staff Extends Sarbanes-Oxley Survey to January 31

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) has extended the deadline to January 31 for public companies’ participation in a Web-based survey about the costs and benefits of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

NAIC President Warns Against Increasing Regulation Complexity

The president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners said a call to regulate the insurance industry on a national level for international activity would make regulation more complex and not be prudent.

 

Life Insurers Seek Lower Cash Cushions

Consumer Groups Skeptical of Proposal

To the list of industries seeking government relief, add another:  life insurance.

 

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