Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, July 16

 

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Florida Insurance Commissioner McCarty Joins Gov. Crist in Meeting with Lloyd’s of London

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today in London joined Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker Designate Ray Sansom in a meeting with Lord Levene, the chairman of Lloyd’s of London, as part of the governor’s Team Florida Trade and Business Development Mission.

Small insurance firms race to Florida

Michael Gold says he got tired of seeing Florida homeowners overcharged for their property insurance.

Insurance Agents, Travelers, Nationwide Urge Coastal Wind Policy

Travelers, Nationwide Mutual and two leading national insurance producer organizations are supporting a plan they say will make private windstorm insurance more affordable and available in coastal areas.

Producer Groups and Carriers Promote Cat Plan

Two major agent broker trade groups and two leading property-casualty insurance carriers have banded together to ask Congress to promote a plan to spread coastal risk across state boarders.

Crist touts agreement on climate research

Gov. Charlie Crist is promising to work with Britain to develop clean energy technology and to prevent climate change.

Three years after Wilma, Immokalee farmers market still waiting for repairs

It’s been nearly three years since Hurricane Wilma ripped roofs off structures at the Immokalee State Farmers’ Market and repairs still aren’t complete. Two demolished packing buildings still need to be built anew.

Desperate to get paid, hospitals subsidize DCF staff

In a move to get more of their unpaid hospital bills covered, dozens of Florida hospitals have agreed to subsidize the salaries of temporary state workers who have authority to determine patients’ eligibility for Medicaid.

COLUMN:  Why do poor need insurance to be healthy?

Poor people haven’t realized the upside of their economic condition.

Poverty can be a golden opportunity to get in shape.

Miami GOP congressional incumbents outraised again

Three Democrats looking to oust three Miami Republicans for U.S. House seats raised big money in the latest reporting period.

Democrats for the second fundraising period in a row have outpaced Miami’s three Republican members of Congress, suggesting an increasingly competitive challenge for the incumbents.

Democratic newcomers to compete in House District 101 primary

Winner will face Hudson in District 101

Two Democratic political newcomers, Maria Jimenez and Samuel Lopez, will compete on Aug. 26 for the chance to wrest control of the State House District 101 seat from a Republican in the Republican-leaning district.

District 13 money gap widens

The financial race for the 13th Congressional District seat is turning into the haves versus the have-nots, according to quarterly campaign-finance reports filed Tuesday.

Mack, Feeney back Rooney to join them in Congress

Tom Rooney, a Republican running for Florida’s District 16 in Congress, received the endorsement from Florida Congressmen Connie Mack and Tom Feeney Tuesday.

Anti-gay activist won’t face Aronberg

Ed Heeney, a Boynton Beach Republican who went on national television with an anti-gay agenda four years ago, is dropping his attempt to unseat state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres.

Foley using campaign chest for legal fees

In the almost two years since resigning from office, the campaign chest of former Congressman Mark Foley, whose district includes most of Martin and St. Lucie counties, still tops $1.19 million.

Candidates differ on drilling

Excerpts from statements from Tuesday night’s candidate forum for state House Districts 29, 30 and 80 and Senate District 24, and answers to questions from the audience:

FPL gets to charge for solar projects

More solar power is headed to Florida, and it looks like Florida Power & Light Co. customers will pay its way.

Sen. Nelson To Push Raytheon Cleanup

People living in the Azalea neighborhood got promises of help from the federal government and the state Legislature on Monday in their efforts to deal with groundwater contamination from the Raytheon plant site.

OPINION:  Crist’s court: Will politics drive his picks?

With two Supreme Court vacancies at hand and two more due next year, has the rare opportunity to make it ‘his’ court. There is much speculation on which of his friends might be trying on robes.

Tampa Man Picked For U.S. Attorney

A. Brian Albritton of Tampa, a lawyer with Holland & Knight, has been nominated by the White House to become the new U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

Amendment 5 debate intensifies

State Sen. Mike Haridopolos on Tuesday scheduled 10 public forums on a plan to abolish property taxes for school support and make legislators find billions of dollars in replacement revenues.

After Jabil pact, public may get look at tax break deals

In the wake of a multimillion-dollar deal for Jabil Circuit, Mayor Rick Baker said Tuesday he is now open to more public scrutiny when private companies come asking for tax breaks.

SEC Annuities Rule Comment Period Expires on Sept. 10 

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposal on treating indexed annuities as securities is not the last word on the subject. Many are saying insurance agents and brokers should be making some noise about this if they want to change it.

Congress, Overriding Bush, Blocks Pay Cut for Doctors

The bill won more support on Tuesday than when it was first approved. The tally in the House last month was 355 to 59, with 129 Republicans voting for passage. The crucial vote in the Senate was 69 to 30, with 18 Republicans voting yes.

Analysis: Southeast to see highest HMO rate jump

HMO premium rates for the Southeast are expected to rise 15.4 percent in 2009 — the highest rate increase of any region in the U.S. — according to analysis by Hewitt Associates.

Consumer Reps To NAIC: Let Us Speak On Market Conduct

Consumer group representatives are asking the National Association of Insurance Commissioners when they will be able to speak their peace on a proposed market conduct analysis format.

5 US House incumbents rout challengers in Ga. primaries; 2 Ala. GOP runoffs decided

Five congressional incumbents easily routed challengers Tuesday after light turnout in Georgia’s party primaries, but two Democratic contenders for U.S. Senate were headed for a runoff.In Alabama, Huntsville insurance executive Wayne Parker and state Rep. Jay Love won GOP congressional primary runoffs.

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