Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, June 10
Jun 10, 2010
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Editorial: Florida needs consumer protections, federal catastrophe fund
Gov. Charlie Crist made the right move recently in vetoing a property insurance bill that would have made it easier for insurance companies to hike the rates of Florida consumers.
A battle over how much weight Florida trucks can carry revs up
Florida’s legislative battle to allow trucking companies to haul 8,000 more pounds than is currently allowed by federal law has become a nationwide issue.
Sentinel: Cyclists want right to ride in middle of road like cars, will fight bike-lane law
Angry bicyclists are hoping to strike back and repeal a law taking effect in September that would force them to ride in bike lanes or hug the right side of the road.
Sting closes 24 South Florida companies for lack of workers’ compensation
A two-day sting has led to the closure of 70 Florida businesses — including 24 in South Florida — because of violations of the state’s workers’ compensation laws.
Florida ranks third worst in U.S. for tort liability costs
Alaska, Hawaii and North Carolina get thumbs up while New Jersey, New York and Florida get thumbs down for their tort liability costs in the latest ranking by a free-market think tank.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Maurice Ferre says the U.S. spends an “absurd” amount on end-of-life care and should gradually move to a universal health system in which the government controls costs by setting prices for medical procedures and capping expenditures based on age and medical condition.
Florida Attorney General candidate focuses on health care lawsuit
Holly Benson, a former state legislator who’s running for state attorney general, is structuring her Republican primary race around the state’s lawsuit to block federal health care reform.
U.S. setting up Miami base to monitor oil spill
An oil-spill command center is being set up in a downtown Miami office building to oversee the state’s crisis response to Florida coastal communities other than the Panhandle.
Florida task force talks of lawsuits in BP oil spill – but backs off
Gov. Charlie Crist said he was not ruling out legal action against BP in the oil spill
A panel of lawmakers, business owners and bureaucrats appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to review the economic fallout from the Gulf oil spill flirted briefly Wednesday with the idea of litigation against BP and other companies responsible for the environmental and economic disaster.
Blog: Atwater directs Select Committee to look at spill’s impact on Florida’s economy
Senate President Jeff Atwater has told the Select Committee on Florida’s Economy to look at the impact that the Gulf oil spill has had on the state’s economy.
- Behind beaches, Florida banks hurt, too
- Dealers beg for oysters as BP checks flow
- Florida universities push for $100 million research grant from BP
Blog: Atwater: Let’s talk about a summer special session for business
Senate President Jeff Atwater told the Times/Herald today that he has asked Senate staffers to look at what the Legislature can do to help businesses crippled by the oil disaster and believes a summer special session on tax breaks and financial assistance could happen.
PSC member Lisa Edgar cleared by Commission on Ethics
The Commission on Ethics announced Wednesday that it found no probable cause that Public Service Commission member Lisa Edgar of inappropriately communicated with a Florida Power & Light attorney through her adviser during a hearing on the utility’s fuel costs.
Blog: Wealthy outsiders show stunning surge in Florida governor, Senate races
In a stunning display of the power of television advertising, two ultra wealthy candidates for the top statewide offices in Florida have enjoyed massive surges.
- Scott leading McCollum in GOP governor’s primary
- Poll: Chiles’ Gubernatorial Candidacy Hurts Alex Sink
Ad firms collide over battle to win Florida’s multi-million dollar anti-smoking campaign
A fierce battle has broken out over who should be in control of the state’s multi-million campaign to keep teenagers from smoking.
Florida’s population growth rate continues decline
U.S. Census estimates say Florida’s population growth rate is continuing to decline. Among the nation’s leaders in unemployment and home foreclosure rates, Florida gained just 114,091 residents from July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2009. After averaging about 2 percent growth for much of the decade, the rate dropped last year to 0.6 percent — the lowest of the decade.
PNJ: State wants Childers back in court
The State Attorney’s Office will attempt to have the recently overturned W.D. Childers’ case heard again before a federal appeals court.
New Florida law allows for paying traffic fines in installments
It’s intended to help drivers who need to drive to work, but have racked up sizable fines
Ellis White remembers the day his 2-year-old granddaughter asked him why he didn’t drive. “That really hurt,” said White. “I had to tell her that I’d lost my driver’s license.”
Mississippi Attorneys’ Lawsuit Against Scruggs Dismissed
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two Gulf Coast attorneys who had accused former attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs and associated law firms of using money owed to them in a scheme to bribe judges and other elected officials.
Float-Builder Liability Exemption Rejected in Louisiana Senate
A proposal to shield Mardi Gras float-builders from some liability claims for accidents on the parade route was scuttled by a Louisiana Senate committee after opponents argued the state shouldn’t give such protections to private companies.
Michigan Court Upholds Denial of Basic Home Insurance Rate Hike
In a unanimous decision this week, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a 2008 order by Insurance Commissioner Ken Ross that denied the state’s property insurer of last resort an 18.9 percent rate hike.
Ohio court upholds workers comp based on multiple jobs
Wages from multiple jobs can be combined to calculate workers compensation benefit levels, Ohio’s Supreme Court decided in ruling against a unit of FedEx Corp., which is self-insured.
New York Governor Signs Legislation For State to Block Health Rates Deemed Unreasonable
Gov. David A. Paterson has signed legislation that gives the state the power to block what it deems unreasonably high health insurance premium increases for millions of New Yorkers.
Blog: Connecticut Gets A “B” For State Regulatiom From The Heartland Institute
Connecticut got a B on a report card measuring how friendly state insurance regulation is to consumers and insurers, according to a report released this week by The Heartland Institute, a conservative and free-market think tank based in Chicago.
NAIC pushes Congress to preserve state-based insurance regulation
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is expressing its support for portions of U.S. House and Senate financial reform bills that preserve state-based insurance regulation.
Reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter names global COO
Guy Carpenter & Co. L.L.C. said Thursday it has named Liz Flynn as global chief operating officer, succeeding Charlie Fry, who has left the company.
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