Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, October 21
Oct 21, 2009
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Citizens expected to get rate hike OK
Florida moved to reduce its financial vulnerability to hurricanes on Tuesday. But a pro-business group said the effort fell far short of what is needed and warned that taxpayers and insurance policyholders remain liable for billions of dollars in damages if a big storm hits the state.
Citizens Property Insurance faces drywall claims
As the state’s largest property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., along with other major insurers in the state, could be facing another financial challenge in addition to hurricanes: Chinese drywall.
Universal Insurance gets rate hike approval in Florida
Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Co. has received state approval to raise its premiums for homeowner insurance by an average of 14.6 percent statewide.
Florida Peninsula Offers to Pick Up Home Policies Dropped by Nationwide
Florida Peninsula Insurance Co., a domestic property/ casualty company writing homeowners and condominium policies statewide, says it is prepared to insure Florida homeowners policies that Nationwide Insurance Co. of Florida will not renew beginning July of 2010.
Sprinkler retrofit mandate gets little feedback
Although the sprinkler system retrofit mandate will affect about 5,600 condos across Florida, the state has received little feedback on just what sort of financial impact the measure will have on associations.
Cooper Gay acquires Florida-based reinsurance broker Reinsurance.com
Cooper Gay, the independent insurance and reinsurance broker, has announced the acquisition of the majority shareholding in Reinsurance.com.ar LLC, the Florida-based specialist reinsurance broker.
Oveido’s Pontell Insurance buys competitor
Kris Pontell Insurance has acquired Silver Insurance for an undisclosed amount.
The merger of the two Oviedo agencies doubles the Pontell agency’s size to eight employees. Pontell, founded in 1989, is an independent agency that represents Nationwide Insurance. It also serves as an agent for more 40 other companies.
Palm Beach Disaster recovery group gets more money to help Hurricane Wilma victims
Nearly four years since Palm Beach County was hit by Hurricane Wilma, volunteers from the Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition Inc. are still helping families affected by the storm rebuild.
Editorial: Intervention by senator gets marina protection project back on track
Mayor Bob Benton credits intervention by U.S. Sen Bill Nelson with getting a unique storm protection project for the Fort Pierce marina back on track and close to final approval.
Florida gets $7M in AstraZeneca, Ortho, Mylan, UDL settlement
Four pharmaceutical companies agreed to settlements totaling $124 million with the federal government and several states, including Florida. Florida will receive more than $7 million from the settlements, Attorney General Bill McCollum said in a release.
Fla. fraud law may curtail some medical careers
A new state law designed mainly to crack down on Medicaid fraud is having unexpected consequences by keeping some health care professionals from getting or keeping their licenses at a time when the state is suffering a shortage.
Blue Cross to offer employees only one health plan in Florida
While insurers nationwide say it’s important that healthcare reform offer people plenty of insurance alternatives, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida has decided that one basic plan is best for its employees next year.
Florida House speaker not on board for special legislative session
Senate President Jeff Atwater’s call for a special legislative session on transportation is getting the cold shoulder from his counterpart, House Speaker Larry Cretul.
‘Save Our Homes’ Is Challenged In Court
Retired Florida State University President Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte regaled an appellate court with a “magic potion” tale and invited the judges to a “house of mirrors” as he challenged homeowner tax breaks in two cases Tuesday.
Fla. House speaker wants Seminole casinos shut until pact reached
Raising the ante in negotiations with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, House Speaker Larry Cretul asked the federal government today to shut down tribal casinos until the Seminoles reach a gambling compact with the state.
Seminole Tribe decries failure to reach gaming deal
The Seminole Tribe’s head of gambling on Tuesday delivered a blunt, public message to the Florida Legislature: You can allow unlimited gambling statewide, or you can have our $150 million a year. But you won’t get both.
Lawmakers in states with similar legislative workloads earn far more.
Crist’s chief of staff to resign to take over campaign duties
Gov. Charlie Crist’s chief of staff, Eric Eikenberg, will resign in two weeks to take command of the governor’s increasingly competitive race for the U.S. Senate.
Rubio Cuts Into Crist Lead In Florida GOP Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds
Gov. Charlie Crist’s lead over former state house speaker Marco Rubio in the 2010 Republican U.S. Senate primary has been cut in half from 55 – 26 percent to 50 – 35 percent, but the Governor tops the leading Democrat, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, 51 – 31 percent among all voters, while Rubio trails Meek 36 – 33 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Southerland running for Fla. U.S. Rep. Boyd’s seat
Steve Southerland, of Southerland Funeral Homes, will run for U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd’s seat, he announced Tuesday.
Despite falling behind his competitor early in the District 12 race for state Senate, state Rep. Kevin Ambler raised almost as much during the last fundraising quarter as Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman.
Gov. Crist orders statewide review of system that allows felons to work in child and elder care
Gov. Charlie Crist ordered a statewide review Tuesday of screening loopholes that allow felons to work as caregivers of Florida’s children, elderly and disabled, and said changes could come as early as December.
Fla. House panel discussing offshore drilling
The Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning is holding a workshop on that topic Wednesday.
Crist gets PSC list to chose replacement
Meeting for less than half an hour Tuesday, the Public Service Nominating Council sent Gov. Charlie Crist the names of four previous nominees to fill an unexpired term on the state utility board.
FPL to be questioned on proposed $1.3 billion rate hike
Utility seeks wider profit margin, raises for employees
Does Florida Power & Light Co. need a profit margin higher than other Florida utilities? Should the utility add $150 million to its $190 million storm reserve? Did FPL staffers press people to testify at hearings held for customer input?
- FPL rate request: Intrigue, politics inflame hearing
- Fort Lauderdale politicians approve 30 years with FPL
- Nuclear power’s up-front costs
Dems go after anti-trust exemption for insurers
Democrats launched a drive at both ends of the Capitol on Wednesday to strip the insurance industry of its decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws, part of an increasingly bare-knuckled struggle over landmark health care legislation sought by President Barack Obama.
Consultant Recommends Sweeping La. Reorganization
A wide-ranging reorganization of Louisiana agencies proposed by a consultant to a government cost-cutting panel ran into complaints Tuesday from officials whose departments are on the chopping block, including insurance.
Study: Workers’ Compensation Public Options Outperform Private Industry
An insurance industry think tank has concluded that 25 public and quasi-public workers’ compensation insurance plans perform better financially than the private market in a number of performance categories and at least as well when it comes to the bottom line.
House Panel Reshaping Credit Rating Agency Liability Bill
A U.S. congressional committee has dropped a key provision from a financial reform bill aimed at reducing investor reliance on credit ratings, according to draft legislation released on Tuesday.
Allstate Agents Ask IRS To Probe Company Job Classification
A leader of an Allstate agents group said the insurer, after converting agents to independent contractor status, is treating them like employees, prompting the producers to ask for an Internal Revenue Service probe.
State Farm Offers Online Agent Day in the Life for Job Seekers
Job-hunting? There are two ways you can search for a job in today’s job climate without ever leaving your chair. On Oct. 21 State Farm Insurance Companies is offering a virtual job fair and a virtual ‘Agent Day in the Life.’
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com.