Florida Chamber Poll Results Favor Governor’s Signature of Open Rating Bill

The Florida Chamber released the results of a poll today, June 8, 2009, showing that 60 percent of Florida voters believe Governor Charlie Crist should sign HB 1171, which was described as “(increasing) consumer options for property insurance,” versus 24 percent who did not think he should sign the bill.

Known as the “Open Rating” bill because it contains deregulation provisions for large insurers, HB 1171 also would preserve the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s authority to disapprove rates as inadequate, or disapprove a rate filing for using an unlawful rating factor.

A press release from the Florida Chamber on the poll results, which included a 70 percent approval rating for Governor Crist, is reprinted below.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.

Florida Chamber Poll: Floridians Support Increasing Property Insurance Options
 Voters Support Bill Passed This Session; Crist Job Approval Remains High

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (June 8, 2009) –  Today, the Florida Chamber of Commerce released a post-session poll showing that 60 percent of Florida voters believe Governor Crist should sign HB 1171, which increases consumer options for property insurance, while only 24 percent disagree. This legislation was supported by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and gives Florida’s consumers the choice of purchasing property insurance through a solvent insurance carrier rather than being forced to purchase through the state-run insurer.

Additionally, the poll shows that Governor Crist continues to have high marks from Florida voters, with a 70 percent job approval rating. 58 percent of Republican respondents indicated their support for Crist in the U.S. Senate race, compared to 17 percent for former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio.

HB 1171 received strong bi-partisan support this session, passing the Florida Senate by a vote of 27 to 9 and the Florida House 105 to 13; however it must be approved by Governor Crist before it can become law. The bill reduces the risk of hurricane loss to Florida’s taxpayers and lowers the potential for hidden hurricane taxes on other policies purchased by Floridians.

“Clearly Florida’s voters not only support increasing consumer’s property insurance options in the marketplace, they believe Governor Crist should sign it in order to ease concerns about the current insurance market,” said Marian Johnson, vice president for political affairs at the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “This poll shows Florida voters are paying close attention to this issue as we move into the 2010 elections.”

The statewide telephone poll of 800 registered Florida voters was conducted May 27-29 by Public Opinion Strategies. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percent.

Polling Results:

• 60 percent believe Governor Crist should sign HB 1171; 24 percent disagree.
• 62 percent believe consumers should be allowed to choose their property insurance provider “even if the prices are not fully regulated by the state” rather than to be limited to only purchasing insurance from a provider whose prices are fully regulated.
• 60 percent of Florida voters are either “very” or “somewhat” worried that their insurance company may not be able to pay their claim if the state is hit with more hurricanes this summer, like in 2004 and 2005.
• 70 percent approve of Governor Crist; 24 percent disapprove.
• 36 percent believe Florida is going in the right direction, compared with 53 percent who believe the state is heading off track.

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