Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, October 22
Oct 22, 2008
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Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida has joined 32 other states and the District of Columbia in a $60 million settlement judgment against Pfizer, Inc., resolving a five-year investigation into the company’s marketing practices of certain pharmaceuticals. In addition to the financial aspects of the resolution, the settlement will largely affect Pfizer’s marketing practices for its products. Florida was a member of the Executive Committee which negotiated the settlement.
COLUMN: Crisis looms for Florida’s hurricane catastrophe fund
The Advisory Council to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund acknowledged last week that the fund’s real claims-paying capacity is only about half what it promised to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and private insurers.
AHCA: Request to expand ‘Reform’ isn’t what it appears
The Agency for Health Care Administration says its legislative budget request for expansion of the ‘Medicaid Reform’ pilot project into 20 more counties next year isn’t what it appears to be. The request is merely a “placeholder” for future action, AHCA spokesman Fernando Senra said Monday by e-mail.
County expands family health insurance
Is 30 the new 25?
It soon will be for Palm Beach County employees, who will be able to keep their unmarried adult children on their health insurance policies until the offspring hit the big 3-0.
Environmentalists, auto dealers clash over emission standards
Environmentalists turned up the heat Tuesday on Florida regulators ahead of next week’s crucial vote to adopt California-style auto emission standards.
Commission recommends more openness in Florida
A proposal would allow Floridians to see what information state agencies have about them.
Floridians would be able to see what information state agencies have gathered about them and ask for corrections under one of several recommendations finalized Tuesday by Florida’s Commission on Open Government.
Early voting, long lines: Is the Legislature to blame?
A 2005 bill passed by Florida legislators that caps the number of hours polls are open each day may be partly responsible for South Florida’s long early voting lines this week.
Those revamped rules trimmed early voting from 12 hours per workday to eight.
Ex-Broward lawmaker sues over attack ad
Former State Rep. Tim Ryan has sued the third-party group that paid for more than $1 million in attack ads in the three-way state Senate race Ryan lost.
Former state Rep. Tim Ryan has sued the third-party group that spent $1.3 million on attack ads to elect one of his opponents in a heated Broward state Senate race, alleging the group spread false information to prevent him from winning.
Four vie for Dave Weldon’s District 15 seat in Indian River, Brevard
Before a recent candidate forum, three of the four seeking Florida’s 15th District in Congress were asked to test their microphones.
Feeney, Kosmas talk bailout, veterans during testy debate
In a sometimes testy debate, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney and challenger Suzanne Kosmas met face-to-face Tuesday as they battle to represent District 24.
Education, health care top candidates’ agendas for House District 46
State Rep. John Legg wants to return to the House of Representatives next year. The Republican, who has become an influential legislator on education issues, says he’s got unfinished work to do.
No mud, no blood in Young-Hackworth House race
Republican Bill Young is running his 20th campaign for Congress out of an old Hollywood Video store without a single paid staffer.
Resident wants Mahoney off ballot, but party leaders say it’s too late
With two weeks until Election Day, Democrats are dismissing a move by a local activist to push Congressman Tim Mahoney from the ballot.
House District 39: Fringe candidate Steve Villard returns to politics, this time with GOP
Fringe candidate Steve Villard is back.
Known in the late 1990s for his spray-painted cardboard signs, he ran twice for Orlando mayor, once for Orange County mayor and for state Senate.
Marriage amendment backers accused of election fraud
Opponents of Amendment 2, the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot, accused its backers of election fraud on Tuesday.
Utility managers preparing legal fight against water limits
The Seacoast Utility Authority is planning to file a legal challenge against state water managers over their push to make two-day-a-week watering restrictions permanent.
Port OKs Lease For Biofuel Plant
The Tampa Port Authority board approved on Tuesday the transfer of a property lease to GreenHunter Energy Inc., which plans to build a biodiesel fuels plant at the port.
Palm Beach County tests financial market with $100 million bond plan
Commissioners are banking on investors to meet biotech deadline
Palm Beach County could be among the first local governments to find out whether Wall Street’s downturn leaves it in a borrowing freeze.
Bank, Securities Groups Tell Congress To Regulate Insurers
Representatives of three banking and securities industry trade groups all urged Congress today to create a greater role for federal regulators in overseeing insurance companies.
FORMER SEC CHAIRMAN LEVITT: How to Restore Confidence in Our Markets
A unified regulator would be a start.
Our nation’s financial markets are in the midst of their darkest hour in 76 years. We are in this situation because of an adherence to a deregulatory approach to the explosive growth and expansion of America’s major financial institutions. Our regulatory system failed to adapt to important, dynamic and potentially lethal new financial instruments as the storm clouds gathered. There is now a total breakdown in the trust necessary for a free and functioning market.
We’re getting better at predicting how many hurricanes will hit each year, when and where they’ll make landfall and how destructive they’re likely to be. We know that the temperature of the Atlantic has been 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit warmer since 1995 and that the incidence of hurricanes has increased 60%. Thanks to modeling by the likes of Risk Management Solutions, air Worldwide, Equecat and others, we know that a category three hurricane hitting Pensacola, Fla. will cause $2.5 billion or so in damage, a category five slamming New Orleans, $23 billion.
Children and Health Coverage Studied
More than two million children in the United States who have no health insurance of any kind have at least one parent who gets employer-provided medical coverage, researchers said.
New Report Analyzes How Children Fare in Candidates’ Health Care Plans
A report (http://www.firstfocus.net/pages/3519/) released today has detailed how children are treated in the health care plans of the presidential candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. The analysis identifies both opportunities and concerns with the policy changes outlined by both presidential candidates, with an eye toward whether the plans would ensure access to comprehensive and affordable health care for every American child.
Health insurers reinvent themselves as money managers
Many rush to open banks as more Americans open health savings accounts, a tax-sheltered way to pay medical bills. Managing that money is more profitable than offering health insurance.
WellPoint Inc., the nation’s largest health insurance company, ran into a snag last year while pursuing an important new business initiative.
Study: Antilocks trim fatal motorcycle crashes
Antilock brakes could help motorcycle riders avoid fatal crashes, according to a study by the insurance industry.
FEMA disputes formaldehyde study of Iowa trailers
Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday questioned a TV station’s findings of high formaldehyde levels in agency-issued trailers and said the lifestyles and habits of the flood victims living in the trailers may be to blame.
Insurers’ Study Warns on North Carolina Beach Plan Deficit
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America unveiled results of an independent report which found that the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association, a.k.a. the Beach Plan, is not financially prepared to weather a major storm.
Oregon Insurance Division Administrator Kipper Stepping Down
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) announced that Scott Kipper, administrator of the Insurance Division, will be leaving his position effective Oct. 31, 2008, to pursue other interests.
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