Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, July 29
Jul 29, 2009
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Blog: Sink wants McCarty to clarify ‘this whole $4 billion issue’
CFO Alex Sink wants Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty to better explain his recent claims that 40 new insurance companies have come into Florida, bringing $4 billion in new capital.
Governor Crist Requests SBA Disaster Declaration for Volusia County
Residents to receive financial assistance to replace tornado-damaged property
Governor Charlie Crist today requested a disaster declaration from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Port Orange residents affected by Friday’s tornado. Yesterday Governor Crist visited the area to survey the damage and speak with affected residents.
Editorial: Our views: Block the ripoff
Regulators should reject State Farm’s bid to skirt law, levy huge rate hikes.
Senators liken drywall’s effects to hurricane damage
Tainted Chinese drywall should be considered a hurricane that hits homes and businesses from the inside out, say senators from affected states, including Florida.
Suit targets The Hartford’s handling of Hurricane Wilma claims in Florida
A Miami lawyer has filed class action suit against The Hartford alleging the company failed to pay replacement cost on Hurricane Wilma claims to insureds who had purchased the coverage.
A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Apollo Casualty Company of Florida
A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating (FSR) of C++ (Marginal) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of ‘b’ to Apollo Casualty Company of Florida (ACCF)(Pompano Beach, FL). The outlook assigned to these ratings is negative.
Nelson, Martinez push hurricane research
Florida’s two senators Tuesday renewed a push to boost federal funding for research into predicting, modeling and preventing damage from hurricanes.
Fla. lawmakers want to thwart federal health plan
Two Republican lawmakers have filed a proposed state constitutional amendment aimed at blocking a federal health care plan in Florida.
Insurance magnate unable to fulfill $16M pledge to FAU
Former insurance magnate Barry Kaye has told Florida Atlantic University fundraisers he is unable to fulfill a $16 million pledge, the largest in FAU’s history.
Roofing company owner convicted of workers’ comp fraud Initial Arrest Part of CFO
Sink’s Check-Cashing Store Investigation
Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced the conviction of Robert McDonald, owner of a well-known roofing company, on chargers of Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud. McDonald, the owner and operator of Gulfstream Roofing, Inc. in Delray Beach, was found guilty of using fake construction companies to avoid paying $400,000 in workers’ compensation premiums.
Florida quits routinely testing for swine flu
Swine flu has become so widespread that public health officials in Florida and elsewhere have stopped mass testing for the virus.
Panel to decide how Fla. pain clinics can operate
Seven doctors recently appointed to a state panel aimed at controlling pill mills have only a few weeks to decide how pain medicine can legally be practiced in Florida.
Did Florida learn from WellCare scandal?
An advocacy group says state officials don’t appear to have learned much from the WellCare scandal, which climaxed in May with federal criminal fraud charges, because they haven’t tightened contracts or laws in ways that would prevent a recurrence. WellCare Health Plans Inc. remains the state’s largest HMO contractor.
State revenue surplus buoys Crist
New figures show Florida collected more money than expected for a third straight month, which cheered Gov. Charlie Crist and the state Cabinet on Tuesday, although the June surplus was a relatively modest $36 million.
For Florida, ‘a glimmer of hope’
Florida’s tax collections are finally living up to bare-bones expectations, the head of the Department of Revenue said Tuesday.
Area Legislators, business owners oppose drilling
Local legislators and business owners are worried the latest push to open Florida’s Gulf Coast to oil drilling might harm the environment and tourism industry.
State puts $2M toward helping people facing foreclosure
Attorney General Bill McCollum presented a $2 million check to The Florida Bar
Foundation Tuesday to provide legal help for people facing foreclosure.
House flood program extension omits windstorms
The House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program through next March.
NAIC aims for efficiency with expedited licensing pilot project
State regulators facilitating the speedy entrance of companies into vital insurance markets
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) utilizes pilot projects to improve the efficiency of company licensing regulatory review processes.
Senate Witnesses See A Role For U.S. Insurance Oversight
A consumer group representative and a law professor told a Senate panel that they think the federal government should help regulate the insurance industry.
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