Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, Sept. 26

 

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President Clinton, Gov. Crist announce FPL solar power plans

Pushing politics aside, Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and former Democratic President Bill Clinton took the stage together to announce that Florida Power & Light will build a solar power plant in Florida as part of a $2.4 billion clean energy program.

Senator John Kerry:  Bush declares war on bipartisan bill to provide health insurance to children 

Four days from now, a wildly successful effort to provide healthcare to 6 million low-income children will disappear.

2 Patriot Act Provisions Ruled Unlawful

Two provisions of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional because they allow search warrants to be issued without a showing of probable cause, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

 

PIP coverage set to expire _ but likely to come back in some form

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Changing Florida’s car insurance system apparently isn’t so easy a caveman could do it.

 

State appeals removal of tax amendment from Jan. 29 ballot

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The state Wednesday appealed a court ruling removing a property tax-cutting constitutional amendment from the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot.

 

Lawmakers reveal outline of $1.1 billion in spending cuts

TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders gave budget committees their marching orders today for the start of hearings on $1.1 billion in budget cuts.

 

Letter to the Editor:  Medicare beneficiaries may not see PIP as necessary

As are many of my fellow Floridians, I am a retiree with no income from employment, with total health benefits covered by Medicare and a supplementary insurance, which covers what Medicare does not.

 

State budget committees meet Thursday

TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders gave budget committees their marching orders today for the start of hearings on $1.1 billion in budget cuts.

 

House Unit To Hear Insurance Reform Outlook

WASHINGTON —A hearing on federal and state insurance regulatory reform issues will be held by a key subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee next Wednesday.

 

Insurers clamber to prevent no-fault insurance’s return

The threat that lawmakers next week might resurrect Florida’s no-fault auto-insurance law has insurers scrambling to kill the deal before it gathers momentum.

 

Grab chance to reform, renew PIP insurance

The compromise on no-fault auto insurance announced Friday won’t make everyone happy, which is why the Legislature should pass it.

 

Software Takes Aim at Altered Photos

Tracing its roots to a founder’s anger at a no-show home remodeling crew, the makers of Shoot & Proof software aim to erase any doubts that digital photos are faked or manipulated.

 

Community builds own ‘hurricane haven’

Countess Henrietta de Hoernle’s motto is simple: “Give while you live.” And at 95 years old, it’s clear that she has stuck to her words.

 

Some married women in Georgia may have driver’s licenses canceled

ATLANTA — Attention Georgia married women: If you took your husband’s last name, your driver’s license might be canceled.

 

Many New Enrollees Would Be Uninsured

Congress’ proposal to expand a child health care program gives states the financial incentive to expand eligibility for coverage to families of four earning about $62,000 a year.

 

Mike Leavitt:  Building safety into the system 

Our consumer safety standards are among the highest in the world, and our food supply is among the safest in the world. But changes in the global economy mean we must now update and upgrade our import safety controls. 

 

Senate Unit Eyes Insurers Offshore Tax Status

WASHINGTON — If Congress fails to address insurers’ use of Bermuda as a tax haven, increasing amounts of capital will flee the United States, an insurance executive warned a Senate panel today.

 

House Unit To Hear Insurance Reform Outlook

WASHINGTON —A hearing on federal and state insurance regulatory reform issues will be held by a key subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee next Wednesday.

 

AIG Introduces Coverage for Political Campaign Committees

AI Risk Specialists Insurance Inc. (AI Risk), a wholly owned brokerage subsidiary of American International Group Inc. (AIG), introduced LexElect, a multi-line insurance program designed specifically to address risks faced by U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and gubernatorial campaign committees.

 

Senate to Hike Health Care Reimbursement

The Senate has voted to allow the Pentagon to raise reimbursement rates for mental health treatment, following reports that soldiers returning from war have had difficulty getting services because of reduced payments to therapists.