Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, May 2

May 2, 2007

Property-tax session set for June

The leaders of the Legislature admitted Wednesday they can’t agree on property taxes and must come back for a special lawmaking session in June.

”The issue is too important to our state and to our taxpayers for us to give them a product that they would not be proud of,” Senate President Ken Pruitt said. “Though we’re disappointed, we’ve come a long way.”

The complete story can be found at: http://www.miamiherald.com/932/v-print/story/93868.html

 

 

OP-ED from Florida’s Governor, Charlie Crist: Trust Busting To Fix Florida’s Insurance Crisis

In response to the Wall Street Journal editorial, “Florida’s Insurance Folly,” that ran in the Tribune April 27: Like Theodore Roosevelt, I believe an elected chief executive, as a servant of the people, should responsibly wield the power of office to further the common good and improve the lives of all citizens. So it follows, my response as Florida’s governor to our state’s insurance crisis places people before profits.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.tbo.com/news/opinion/commentary/MGBEWBZI51F.html

 

 

Crist touts aggressive insurance reforms

TALLAHASSEE – With Gov. Charlie Crist making an aggressive sales pitch, Florida lawmakers seem poised to overhaul the insurance industry far beyond their attempt early this year.

The Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill built around Crist’s campaign promise to crack down on the so-called “pup” companies insurers form to reduce their risk in Florida.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070502/LOCAL/705020341/-1/news

 

 

Crist: Still time to rework insurance

Gov. Charlie Crist says he has not given up on further insurance reform in the last days of session.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070502/CAPITOLNEWS/705020335/1010/NEWS01

 

 

Squabble over state insurer looms

The governor wants more control over Citizens. The Senate could vote today.

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate tentatively approved Tuesday a plan sought by Gov. Charlie Crist to expand Citizens Property Insurance Corp., but only after rebuffing an effort by the Governor’s Office to give Crist more control over the government-run insurer.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-insure0207may02,0,1682269.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

 

 

Senate amends Citizens bill

As the debate opened in the Senate on a bill to allow the state-run insurer to expand its operations, lawmakers added a provision that would freeze rates through 2008.

Continuing the rate freeze that’s now scheduled to end Jan. 1 would be a good turn of events for policyholders of Citizens Property Insurance.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/93291.html

 

 

Citizens rates frozen under Senate plan

TALLAHASSEE — Rates for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers would remain frozen through 2009 under a bill debated Tuesday in the Florida Senate.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/business/epaper/2007/05/02/m6d_xgrcitizens_0502.html

 

 

Florida seeks to create 21st century economy with inventions law

TALLAHASSEE· Fueled by cooperation between universities and nearby venture capitalists, Austin, Silicon Valley, Raleigh-Durham and the Route 128 corridor around Boston are known for their thriving 21st century economies.

The complete story can be found at:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-fventure02may02,0,5929573.story?coll=sfla-business-front 

 

 

$40 million going to hurricane improvement group

TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers are poised to give $40’million for processing hurricane home improvements to a Florida nonprofit headed by woman whose husband works for the House council that recommended the appropriation.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/05/02/a6a_XGR_grants_0502.html

 

 

House blocks off-site ERs

TALLAHASSEE — Medical emergencies should be treated at hospitals and not off-site facilities, House lawmakers decided Tuesday.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/05/02/a7a_XGR_hospitals_0502.html

 

 

MetLife’s Profit Rises 38%

MetLife, the insurance giant, said yesterday that first-quarter profit rose 38 percent compared with a year ago and that it had amassed a record $537.8 billion in total assets.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/02metlife.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

 

 

WellCare Earnings, Revenue Increase

TAMPA – WellCare Health Plans released first-quarter financials Monday, a week ahead of schedule, reporting large increases in earnings and revenue as a national magazine also noted that the Tampa-based company leaped ahead of several competitors.

The complete story can be found at:  http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGB40SZM51F.html

 

 

Cigna posts lower quarterly profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Cigna Corp. on Wednesday said quarterly net income fell 18 percent from a year earlier, when it recorded large investment gains, but results beat estimates as membership in its health insurance plans jumped.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050200472.html

 

 

Proposal Eliminates Earmarked Medicaid Paybacks

TAMPA – UnitedHealthcare, Amerigroup Florida and WellCare Health Plans are the companies most likely to benefit from a change that crept into a budget bill last weekend, state data indicate.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGB5LRG271F.html

 

 

Florida permitted to use federal funds to replace voting machines

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission will allow Florida to use federal funds to replace the state’s touch-screen voting machines with a verifiable paper-trail system, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office and the Florida Department of State said Tuesday.

The complete story can be found at:  http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070501/APN/705011828

 

 

Emergency managers prepare for dike breaks

On the same day forecasters declared no end in sight to a drought that has left Lake Okeechobee at historic lows, emergency managers gathered Tuesday to plan for the day when a brimming lake could lead to a New Orleans-style breach of the levee that protects South Florida.

The complete story can be found at:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cpdike02may02,0,668290.story?coll=sfla-news-broward

 

 

Donor pitches life insurance to raise FAU millions

BOCA RATON — Philanthropist and self-made insurance tycoon Barry Kaye wants Florida Atlantic University to use one of his new life insurance plans to make the school $100 million richer.

The complete story can be found at:  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/05/02/m1a_FAU_INSURE_0502.html

 

 

In a Reversal, U.S. Says Medicare Won’t Cover Stents for Neck Arteries

Responding to criticism from surgeons, the government has dropped its previously announced plans to expand Medicare coverage for the use of stents to prop open neck arteries to prevent strokes.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/02stent.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fI%2fInsurance

 

 

A Warning on Risk in Commercial Mortgages

Spurred by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, the leading bond rating agencies are beginning to crack down on what they see as risky lending practices in commercial real estate.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/realestate/commercial/02real.html

 

 

SureScripts to Buy Rival Network

Doctors to Gain Single Clearinghouse for Electronic Prescriptions

SureScripts, the nation’s largest electronic drug prescription network, has agreed to pay $500,000 to buy its chief competitor, the companies announced yesterday.

The complete story can be found at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR2007050101790.html

 

 

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