Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, May 19
May 19, 2010
Above: The world’s smallest insurance lobbyist, Thomas Fulton Webb, arrived in Tallahassee last night.
BREAKING NEWS: World’s Smallest Insurance Lobbyist Arrives in Tallahassee
Mother Blackberries News of 7 lb., 2 oz. Wonder
Colodny Fass Partner and insurance lawyer/lobbyist Katie Scott Webb gave birth to Thomas Fulton Webb last night and the competition is already worried. “It’s not like we’re calling him a baby or anything,” an anxious rival sniped via text message from the Capitol Rotunda. Undeterred by labor pain, Ms. Webb continued to e-mail her adoring insurance clients throughout the delivery. Given this fine example of diligence, the up-and-coming young insurance advocate allegedly burped the mysterious phrase “Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund” before he began to cry…
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South Florida-based 21st Century Holding: First-Quarter Loss Driven by Reinsurance Costs
High reinsurance costs and Florida-mandated mitigation credits given to homeowners drove 21st Century Holding Co. to a first-quarter net loss of $927,000, but the company’s chief executive thinks the reinsurance market is ready to turn around.
Blog: NOAA delays issuing hurricane season outlook
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric won’t be issuing its outlook for hurricane season this Thursday, as had been scheduled.
Marco Rubio’s Home Sale Linked to PIP Issue
In 2007, Florida’s no fault auto insurance law was set to expire. The law known as PIP – or personal injury protection – provides $10,000 in medical coverage for anyone in an auto accident.
Pre-Hurricane Season Unlicensed Contractor Sting Nets Arrests
Broward sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday made seven arrests at a checkpoint they set up early in the morning to target unlicensed contractors before the start of hurricane season, officials said.
Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods win right to bury power lines
Neighborhoods that want to pay to bury their utility lines underground will be allowed to do so.
McCollum criticizes Sink for ordering rifles for insurance investigators
Candidates for governor battle over efficiency
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said Tuesday taxpayers could save at least $700 million a year by changing the attitude of state government from “bigger is better” to “smarter is better.”
Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Crist Should OK Anti-Drunk Interlock
Governor Charlie Crist should approve legislation to provide new state supervision and require installation of ignition interlock devices for repeat drunk-driving offenders.
Florida hospitals, surgeons look to cut errors, costs with program
The initiative collects data in the areas where mistakes occur most.
Florida surgeons hope to cut infection rates, lower hospital costs and improve outcomes as part of a new statewide initiative unveiled Tuesday by the Florida Hospital Association and the American College of Surgeons.
Florida calls for quick reopening of Gulf to fishing
Florida fish and wildlife officials are urging a quick response and reopening of waters that are closed to fishermen because of the Gulf oil spill.
Florida Democratic lawmakers push for united front against drilling
Chastened by the growing oil threat in the Gulf, Florida Democratic lawmakers called on colleagues Wednesday to once again present a unified front against more offshore drilling.
Moody’s Warns Oil Spill May Be Worse Than Recession for Florida
A Moody’s report released Tuesday on the potential impact of the oil spill on Florida warns it could hurt the state on a major scale.
Army Corps on edge as Lake O fills with rain and strains against its feeble dike
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday it has no choice but to destroy fragile estuaries around Lake Okeechobee to keep residents living around its eroded dike safe.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Redistricting Proposal Becomes Amendment 7
The Secretary of State on Wednesday designated a legislatively-proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting as Amendment 7.
Two more Florida Public Service Commission seats open
The council Tuesday announced it will take applications through June 17 for seats held by Commissioners Nancy Argenziano, who currently chairs the panel, and Nathan Skop. Both are free to reapply for the jobs that pay $130,036.
Florida prosecutor drops Sansom perjury charge
A prosecutor is dropping a perjury charge against former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom, but the case will continue on other counts.
Abortion-bill strategy, election-year politics prompt massive early influx of bills to Crist
Florida House and Senate leaders have swamped Gov. Charlie Crist’s office with 139 bills in the past week, the latest tactic in an ongoing election-year battle between Crist and a legislature dominated by the Republican Party he recently spurned.
- Why lawmakers have sent Crist almost 140 bills in the last week
- Republicans feeling sting of Crist’s veto
Florida among first states to make attacks on homeless hate crimes
For four years, Florida has been named the worst state in the nation for violence against the homeless.
Palm Beach County commission, Florida Crystals agree to inland port compromise
An industrial distribution center, known as the “inland port,” won’t be built on 318 acres next to Florida Crystal’s Okeelanta sugar mill.
Floridians left hanging on solar rebates
Thousands of homeowners and business owners who installed solar systems expecting to be reimbursed for the costs from the Florida Solar Rebate Program could be left footing the bill, if state lawmakers don’t fund the program.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Crist seeks labor aid
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, up until last month a Republican, will step into a bastion of Democratic politics this weekend with a speech to the AFL-CIO of Florida as the union umbrella group vets candidates for possible endorsement.
Billionaire Jeff Greene, checkbook in hand, charges into the Florida Democratic Senate primary
Florida has never had an erotic art-collecting billionaire who pals around with Mike Tyson run for statewide office, so it’s hard to tell whether Jeff Greene has a real shot.
Joe Garcia kicks off campaign for Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart’s former congressional seat
Democrat Joe Garcia officially launched his congressional campaign Tuesday, setting his sights for the second time on U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart’s seat in Washington — this time by attacking Tallahassee.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Rep. Grady to Forgo Second Term, Lille Steps In
Freshman Rep. Tom Grady, considered a rising star in the GOP, suprised colleagues Wednesday by announcing he won’t be running for re-election, saying he could “better serve outside the Florida House.”
Candidate Dawn Thompson’s flier violates Florida House rules
State House candidate Dawn Thompson must change some of her campaign literature because it violates House rules.
BestWeek: Reopened Katrina Claims Provide Lesson for Insurers, Adjusters
A quiet storm of Hurricane Katrina claims is simmering along the Gulf Coast. They are not new claims. They are reopened claims, highlighting a lesson adjusters and insurers learned from the 2005 hurricane: don’t bite off more than you can chew, according to this week’s BestWeek U.S./Canada.
Insurance Commissioner said Texas Company was Owned and Managed by Scam Artists
A Texas-based insurance company is insolvent and has been placed under control of Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, who earlier said the business was “owned and managed by scam artists.”
Mississippi Home’s Concrete Structure Beats Winds, Cuts Insurance Cost
The Dubuisson home will resemble others in the traditional Pass Christian neighborhood when construction is complete this summer yet underneath will be a superstructure built to withstand 200 mile-per-hour winds and cut wind insurance premiums to $1,000 a year.
Louisiana Lawmakers, Administration Spar Over Recovery Money
After the devastating back-to-back blows of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana’s leaders created a far-reaching state bureaucracy to manage and devise multibillion dollar recovery plans for wrecked southern parishes.
Temp-Worker Exec Charged with $25 Million Insurance Fraud in New York
A temporary-worker magnate has been charged with scamming the New York State Insurance Fund out of $25 million in payments he owed for workers’ compensation insurance.
Flagstone Re Completes Redomicile Move to Luxembourg
Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings, S.A. announced that it has completed the previously announced change in the company’s corporate domicile from Bermuda to Luxembourg.
Flagstone Announces Increase in Share Repurchase Program to Enhance Shareholder Value
Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings, S.A., announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the potential further repurchase of company stock,underscoring its commitment to optimize shareholder value.
Chartis Expands Hurricane Services to Cape Cod
Chartis has expanded access of the advanced disaster preparedness and post-hurricane resources of its Private Client Group’s Hurricane Protection Unit to homeowners in the Massachusetts counties of Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket.
RMS Announces New Parametric Loss Index for Japan Quake Risks
Risk Management Solutions announced the addition of Japan earthquake to its existing suite of parametric industry loss indices covering U.S. hurricane, U.S. earthquake, and Europe windstorm.
Key Facts, Common Myths About Protecting Homes from Hurricanes
With weather forecasters calling for a worse-than-average 2010 Atlantic basin hurricane season, the Institute for Business & Home Safety is advising property owners on the most effective ways to protect their homes and businesses from hurricane damage.
Insurance Industry Told: Stop Writing Rubbish Business
Capacity will need to be cut and Lloyd’s underwriters will have to ‘stop writing rubbish business’ in order for the market to maintain its profitability through the uncertain economic environment, Lloyd’s chief executive officer, Richard Ward warned on the opening day of the Insurance Day Summit in London.
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