Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, May 27

May 27, 2009

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Florida ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill Angers Consumer Groups

A Florida bill that would allow some insurers to charge rates above those approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation provided they meet certain capital requirements has drawn the ire of consumer groups.

 

Blog:  Crist hints at veto of insurance deregulation bill

Gov. Charlie Crist said this morning that he continues to have concerns about the property insurance bill (HB 1171) that allows for large, well-capitalized companies like State Farm, to go unregulated.

 

Crist backs McCarty in Fla. insurance bill dispute

 Gov. Charlie Crist has rejected a state senator’s demand to fire Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty if he refuses to resign.

 

Volusia braces for second wave of storm problems: mildew, mosquitoes, money requests

Floodwaters have mostly receded, but Volusia officials are being hit with a second surge of problems caused by last week’s unprecedented rainfall: mold, mosquitoes and requests for financial assistance from uninsured residents.

 

New Building Code Legislation Introduced By Florida Congressman Would Protect Lives, Property, Says Building Code Coalition

The Building Code Coalition on Tuesday applauded the introduction of legislation encouraging the adoption and enforcement of statewide building codes throughout the nation. The proposal was introduced by U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Michael Arcuri, D- N.Y.

 

FPL inspecting poles for storm season in Miami-Dade

As the hurricane season approaches, Florida Power & Light is inspecting and repairing South Miami-Dade’s electrical infrastructure to better withstand storms and to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages.

 

CFO revokes license of agent misleading seniors in annuity scam

Revocation Underscores Need for CFO Sink’s Safeguard our Seniors Legislation

 As part of her ongoing Safeguard Our Seniors initiative, Florida CFO Alex Sink is revoking the license of a southwest Florida insurance agent who convinced a senior investor to surrender $70,000 in annuity policies and then placed the money into his own personal bank account.

 

Red-Light Cameras: Blinded by Dollars

For the past several years, cities and counties in Florida have been installing unmanned cameras at dangerous intersections to help curtail red-light running by careless, irresponsible drivers.

 

‘Smart’ system for gridlock in Brevard

Proposal would line up stoplights

Brevard County officials want to install a $2.5 million “intelligent transportation system” to help relieve traffic congestion near Kennedy Space Center.

 

Editorial: Time to bite the bullet on insurance

It’s a bitter pill, but Gov. Charlie Crist should sign the property insurance rate-deregulation bill sent to him by Florida lawmakers.

 

Miami-Dade, Blue Cross team up on health plan

The new insurance plan is intended to be affordable, comprehensive — and perhaps a model for the nation.

Offering what its creators believe could be a model for affordable health insurance nationwide, a unique public-private partnership announced Tuesday a plan aimed at helping the estimated 600,000 uninsured in Miami-Dade County.

 

Crist signs state budget after many urge vetoes

Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed a recession-racked $66.5 billion state budget that required a legislative overtime to draft, raises $2 billion in taxes and fees and trims the ranks of state employees.

     

    Special budget session possible, Senate President says

    Gov. Charlie Crist signed the 2009-2010 $66.5 billion state budget today but lawmakers could be forced to come back to cut it as they did earlier this year.

       

      Group finds ‘turkeys’ in Florida budget

      Florida TaxWatch found 10 projects worth $15 million that it urges Gov. Charlie Crist to veto.

      Confronting their tightest budget year in decades, Florida legislators squandered relatively few tax dollars on hometown projects known as ”turkeys,” according to a statewide research group.

       

      New law eases property tax challenges

      If it’s signed by the governor – and Charlie Crist plans to – HB 521 could fundamentally change the way owners challenge the appraiser’s assessment of their property value.

       

      Dockery Considers Run for Governor

      State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, is seriously considering trying to become the fourth person from Polk County and first woman to be governor of Florida.

       

      Federal judge throws out restrictions on Florida’s electioneering interest groups

      A federal judge has tossed out Florida’s electioneering communications law, effectively freeing groups to spend unlimited sums of money to attack candidates in elections without publicly disclosing their donors.

       

      Palm Beach County grand jury recommends sweeping changes to handle political corruption

      A Palm Beach County grand jury, finding “a crisis of trust in public governance,” has recommended sweeping reforms to penalize corrupt politicians, open government to public view and create an Office of Inspector General as a watchdog to ensure that public funds aren’t squandered for officials’ private gain.

       

      THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Sansom, Richburg Charged With Perjury; Odom Indicted

      A Leon County grand jury tacked on perjury to the list of charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom and former Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg, saying the two lied to the grand jury about plans to build an airport hangar for a Sansom contributor out of state dollars.

       

      New owner has big plans for Florida-based BankUnited

      Now that John Kanas has won the bid to acquire BankUnited, he knows what he wants to do with the Coral Gables thrift.

      Ask prominent New York banker John Kanas why he’s back in the banking game at the helm of BankUnited, and the new chief executive responds: ”I always thought I had one more good one in me.”

       

      Editorial: NASA’s new boss

      Charlie Bolden faces huge challenge in guiding agency’s uncertain future

      Charlie Bolden has the right stuff. And he’s going to need every bit of it to guide NASA though the turbulent days ahead – days that will include a traumatic post-shuttle transition and possible cancellation of its manned moon program.

       

      5th Circuit upholds judge in Katrina damage case

      A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a judge’s ruling that dismissed an engineering firm from a lawsuit involving a Hurricane Katrina damage case.

       

      Home Warranties Under Fire in South Carolina

      A coalition of about 70 consumer and justice groups have sent a letter to South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster asking him to investigate home warranties they think violate state law.

       

      A.M. Best Special Report: Life/Health Insurers Grow More Vulnerable to Financial Impairment Due to Losses

      Seven life/health and annuity insurers became financially impaired in 2008 and three impairments have emerged thus far in 2009.

       

      Regulating Insurers: Two Perspectives

      Frank Keating, President of the American Council of Life Insurers, and Mark G. Peters, Special Deputy to the Superintendent of the New York Liquidation Bureau, offer competing opinions on regulation.

       

      Allstate Looks For Agency Prospects In A Down Economy

      Allstate regional offices in seven states over the past three months have announced they are seeking 295 agents to open new offices, with the largest number of agents being sought in Texas, a tally of recent announcements shows.

       

      Hard-to-Insure Find Novel Way to Get Coverage

      People who have lost their employer-provided health insurance because of a layoff, early retirement or other reasons are turning to a little-known strategy to get coverage: forming a small business, or using an existing one, to buy a group policy.

       

      North Carolina Agent Charged with Murder Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

      Former North Carolina insurance agent Michael A. Howell has pleaded guilty to 25 counts of embezzlement and is expected to plead guilty to the murder of the state examiner who audited his agency about one year ago.

       

      Title Insurance President Arrested For Ponzi Scheme Operation

      The president of a defunct New York title insurance company was arrested Tuesday on charges he misappropriated up to $5 million in client and escrow monies, federal and state authorities announced.

       

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