Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, March 26

 

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Senate bill pressures home insurers

A variety of measures would tighten state control in an effort to restrict rate increases.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday advanced a package of changes to keep pressure on insurers and extend the reforms enacted last year to lower homeowner premiums.

Citizens rate lock advances

Windstorm premiums would be capped for another year for homeowners with state-backed insurance, but Floridians covered by private carriers could see a rate hike under a pair of bills a state Senate committee approved Tuesday.

Fla. Panel Moves To Limit Homeowner CAT Exposure

Legislation aimed at reducing Florida homeowners’ exposure to increased assessments to support the state’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund in the event of a major storm won unanimous approval in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee today.

EDITORIAL: Our view: Fleeced again

Get ready to pay for state bailout if a big hurricane rolls through Florida this year

You don’t have to tell Florida residents they’re getting the shaft from insurance companies on their homeowner policies for hurricane coverage.

Insurance rule changes shouldn’t have bad impact

The news last week that companies that insure mortgages were tightening their regulations in Brevard County left some wondering whether they would still be able to get mortgages to buy a new home.

Legislature is divided on budget strategies

The Florida House and Senate are advancing starkly different strategies to patch a $2.5-billion shortfall in tax revenue for next year.

Lawmakers confront task of deeper cuts

Florida’s budget woes could lead to layoffs in the prison system, tuition hikes and a delay in FIU’s medical school opening.

Steep tuition hikes for college students, a one-year delay in the opening of the Florida International University medical school, thousands of prison jobs eliminated.

GOP Split on Permanent Tax Limits

Some Republicans disagree with plan to require voter OKs to exceed cap.

With a widening Republican rift over the need for deeper tax cuts, cities and counties could face their biggest challenges yet as a powerful committee considers a permanent cap on taxes and fees today.

Panel weighs caps on government revenue

A proposal to ask voters to impose a yearly cap on the money collected by governments in Florida, from tiny towns all the way to the state Legislature, will come to a vote Wednesday before the powerful state tax commission.

Florida tax protesters tramp into Crist’s office

Their anger was etched on weary faces, carried in chants and scrawled across signs mocking Gov. Charlie Crist’s promise to drop property taxes “like a rock.”

Earmark ‘fetish’ confounds lawmaker

The current buzz over how lawmakers on Capitol Hill “earmark” federal funds for special projects amazes Rep. Allen Boyd.

Guns-at-work bill clears state Senate committee

The much-debated “take your guns to work” bill cleared a key Senate committee today, with one opponent labeling it the “take your Uzi to work bill.”

Rail line costs jump by $150M

The cost for a controversial commuter rail project in Orlando has jumped more than $150-million.

North Port may fire insurer to save money

The city has put its insurance group on notice that it is looking for a better deal.

Rouson Takes House District 55 Primary

Lawyer Darryl Rouson won a three-way race for state House District 55 in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to replace former Rep. Frank Peterman Jr., according to unofficial returns.

Democratic activists try new approach to solve Florida’s delegate mess between Clinton, Obama

Some Florida Democratic activists are floating a new compromise that, when the delegates are added up, becomes a real problem for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

$200M Set Aside for Post-Katrina Coastal Recovery in Mississippi

Federal legislators joined Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour last week to announce that $200 million in federal funds is set aside for major recovery projects in Hancock County- ground zero for the destructive force of Hurricane Katrina.

Suit Names Board Members, Former Execs of Louisiana Citizens

Two policyholders of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. have filed a federal lawsuit against board members and former executives of the corporation, which was established by the state as an “insurer of last resort” for people who could not get property insurance from other companies.

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