Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, October 29
Oct 29, 2008
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Note: The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America has created a new, weekly feature entitled “Decision 2008,” which is designed to provide news and information about key political races that could affect the insurance industry. For your convenience, Capitol to Courthouse News will reprint the entire “Decision 2008” newsletter below.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty Tuesday issued a final order approving the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s (NCCI) amended rate filing for workers’ compensation insurance rates that will become effective Jan. 1. The rate decrease marks the sixth consecutive drop in worker’s compensation rates since 2003, the year the Florida Legislature passed sweeping reforms of the workers’ compensation system.
CFO Sink: Insurance Fraud Investigation Lands South Florida Attorney in Prison
Disbarred lawyer will spend a year in prison for stealing insurance funds
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced today that a South Florida attorney has been disbarred and has been ordered to surrender on Nov. 7, 2008, to serve 366 days in a Florida prison after an investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DFS) led to numerous felony charges for stealing insurance settlement payments from clients.
Medicaid: Nursing homes underpaid
Florida’s Medicaid program underpaid nursing homes by $214 million in 2006 and will fall short by a like amount this year as a result of an ongoing, national funding gap, according to a report released Tuesday.
Tennessee Underwriter Forms Commercial Brokerage in Florida
Tennessee-based Appalachian Underwriters Inc. established a commercial brokerage division and will open a new office in Sarasota, Fla. to house the new operation.
Nearly one-fifth of Florida’s electorate already voted
With the presidential election still a week out, nearly one-fifth of Florida’s electorate has already cast ballots. And Florida Democrats are claiming they’ve got an edge over Republicans among the more than 2.3 million voters who have already cast ballots.
County Absentee and Early Voting Reports from the Florida Department of Elections
According to the county early voting reports, 1,404,897 Floridians have voted early in Florida as of 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 29, 2008.
Problems with Sequoia voting equipment not limited to Palm Beach County
Sequoia Voting Systems’ problems haven’t been limited to Palm Beach County.
In Indian River County’s primary, election officials didn’t realize for two days that more than 10,000 extra votes had been cast, possibly because of an incomplete test of that county’s vote transmitting system.
Manatee early voting called into question
Citing Manatee’s conspicuously low number of early voting locations – one for 206,000 voters – a member of the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday called for a grand jury investigation of Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Bob Sweat.
Broward eases rules for ‘no match’ voters at polls
Broward is joining Miami-Dade in offering so-called ‘no match’ voters an Election Day option for clearing identification questions.
Broward County has changed its policy and will allow a one-stop Election Day option for its 1,600-plus ”unverified” voters.
Latest Quinnipiac poll says Florida too close to call in presidential race
Florida, the must-win state for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, is too close to call, according to the latest poll.
District 73 Democrat has uphill battle against Florida House incumbent
Incumbent state Rep. Nick Thompson says there’s work he’d like to finish with tax reform if voters return him to the Florida House of Representatives District 73 seat, while his challenger, Stephen Gray-Blancett, says it’s time for a new focus – and new face.
Sen. Mel Martinez will pay $99,000 in fines over 2004 election
Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida has agreed to pay $99,000 in fines for breaking several federal election laws — including accepting $313,000 in excessive contributions — during his 2004 Senate campaign, according to newly released records.
These Young Floridians Are Well-Connected
Joe Hansen states upfront that his goal someday is to run for elective office in Florida. The Long Island native moved to Palm Beach County two years ago after college in Rhode Island, where he participated in College Leadership Rhode Island. He joined Connect Florida at its initial meeting in July 2006.
Florida’s Economy: How Bad Is It?
There’s plenty of pain throughout Florida these days, as the effects of the real estate market collapse and the national economic slowdown wash through the state’s economy. Nearly 30,000 Floridians had filed for bankruptcy by midyear – three-fourths as many as filed during all of 2007. The state is second in the country in foreclosures, and U.S. Census data indicate that about a third of south Florida mortgage holders are spending at least half their paychecks on housing costs.
Meandering 310 miles from the coastal marshes of southeastern Florida up the Atlantic coast, the St. Johns River shifts back and forth from river to lake to swamp to estuary as it makes a slow journey toward Jacksonville. It’s the longest river in Florida – and the newest battleground in the state’s water wars.
EDITORIAL: Cleaner air for the Sunshine state
Gov. Charlie Crist wants Florida to adopt clean-car standards similar to those in California to control greenhouse gases as part of his plan to fight climate change and improve the state’s energy policy. The standards would reduce greenhouse emissions and improve energy efficiency.
FDIC Could Become Federal Insurance Regulator, Says Chief
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s powers could be expanded if Congress decides to shift insurance companies from state regulation to federal regulation, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said Wednesday.
PCI CEO Tells Members: Insurance Foes ‘Gathering Steam’
The president of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) warned his membership yesterday they must prepare for a long campaign to ward off attacks by lawmakers who want to micromanage insurers.
Travelers, Chubb Protest U.S. Aid for Insurers; Life Insurers Welcome Help
Property/casualty insurers Travelers Cos. Inc. and Chubb Corp. said they do not need federal financial assistance and chided other insurers pushing to be included in the $700 billion bailout.
The risk your home policy won’t cover
It’s not tomorrow’s big natural disaster. It’s getting hit by today’s huge premium hikes. Here’s how to fight.
As if it weren’t bad enough that home prices are going down (way down), the cost of homeowners insurance is also moving in the wrong direction: up (in some areas, way up).
Web Site ‘Bridges’ Relationships Between Insurance Agents and Brokers
The Internet has become more than a useful bridge for insurance agents trying to reach new markets for accounts – it’s also helped locate insurance for bridges.
PCI’s Decision 2008
The Electoral College: How the President is Chosen
Every national news outlet has some type of hi-tech Electoral College map that they use to predict the next president. Many people are confused about how and why we use this system, so we have provided a brief primer that will help you earn a degree in the Electoral College. Read More…
Right Track/Wrong Track, Pollsters Tap into the Mood of the Country
Traditionally, one of the best predictors of presidential election results has been a polling question commonly known as “Right Track/Wrong Track.” Generally speaking, if more people respond that the country is on the right track, the incumbent party tends to prevail; conversely, if more people see the country as being on the wrong track, it is harder for the incumbent party to win. Read More…
Quick Takes on the States
PCI examines the political landscape in Colorado, Connecticut, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas. Read More…
Quick Takes on US Senate Races
PCI examines U.S. Senate races in New Mexico and North Carolina. Read More…
This Just in…Alaska State Senator Stevens Found Guilty; Will Continue Bid for Re-Election
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens was found guilty of seven counts of filing false financial disclosure forms and each charge carries a maximum of five years in prison. Following the verdict Stevens issued a statement alleging prosecutorial misconduct. He said, “The Government lawyers allowed evidence to be introduced that they knew was false. I will fight this unjust verdict with every ounce of energy I have. I am innocent. This verdict is the result of the unconscionable manner in which the Justice Department lawyers conducted this trial. I ask that Alaskans and my Senate colleagues stand with me as I pursue my rights. I remain a candidate for the United States Senate.”
Responding to the conviction, Alaska Governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said, “The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company that was allowed to control too much of our state. That control was part of the culture of corruption I was elected to fight. And that fight must always move forward regardless of party or seniority or even past service. As Governor of the State of Alaska, I will carefully monitor this situation and take any appropriate action as needed.”
Stevens has been in the Senate since 1968 and typically has no problems winning in this reliably Republican state. Mark Begich, mayor of the state’s largest city, Anchorage, has benefited from the adverse publicity surrounding his opponent and has held small but steady leads in most nonpartisan polling. The conviction provides Democrats with another example of excessive government spending and corruption as they seek to win a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate.
Election 2008 Tool Box
Make sure your voice is heard in 2008. Register to vote, learn how to vote early and find information on candidates seeking office across the country.
Do you need to look up the elected officials that currently represent you? Click here to access a list of your federal and state legislators, including full biographies and contact information.
Election Day 2008 features the Presidential Election, 33 U.S. Senate Elections, and 435 U.S. Congressional Elections. There are also 11 state gubernatorial elections. This year’s state legislative elections will bring inevitable change with nearly 80 percent of all legislative seats scheduled for elections. Finally, there are insurance commissioner races in Delaware, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Washington State. Click here to access state and federal candidate information.
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