Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, August 27

Aug 27, 2012

 

To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below.  Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.




Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events

9:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Proposed Rule Hearing.  The proposed amendment to Rule 69L-5.217, entitled “Civil Penalties and Fines,” would reduce the amount of the penalty imposed by Rule 69L-5.217(1)(a)4 for delinquent forms, reports and documents from $200 per day to $100 per day.  To view the hearing notice, click here.

     

     

    Daily Insurance-Related News

     

    Former Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist Endorses President Obama

    Charlie Crist, the former Florida governor and a prominent national Republican, has broken GOP ranks and endorsed Barack Obama for re-election to the U.S. presidency.

     

    Insurance adjusters ready help assess damage

    Citizens Property Insurance Corporation says teams of adjusters are preparing to assess damage caused Tropical Storm Isaac.

     

    Blog:  Isaac could be Governor Rick Scott’s moment

    Governor Rick Scott expected to get just a few minutes in the Republican National Convention spotlight.

     

    State activates price gouging hotline for Isaac

    The state has activated a price gouging hoteline ahead of Isaac.

     

    South Florida Water Management District works to avoid Tropical Storm Isaac flooding

    Drainage canals have been lowered, levees inspected and pumps tested as South Florida tries to avoid flooding from the drenching rains expected from Tropical Storm Isaac.

     

    In Tropical Storm Isaac’s wake, more than 9,000 left without power in Miami-Dade; 6,250 in Broward      

    Tropical Storm Isaac only brushed South Florida, but Sunday night it had left thousands without electricity in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

     

    Higher premiums for customers, lavish spending for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Executives

    The public hearing had grown heated. Board members of Citizens Property Insurance were pushing a controversial plan that would force hundreds of thousands of Florida homeowners to pay more for less coverage.

     

    Florida Citizens Property Insurance Executive Seeks to Ease Mitigation Credit, Budget Concerns

    Florida Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Chief Executive Officer Barry Gilway says the state-run insurer of last resort is going to improve its mitigation-inspection program while taking a “clean, concise look” at the organization’s budget.

     

    Citizens Property Insurance created job for top official’s former aide

    Of all the expenses Tom Grady ran up in his brief tenure at Citizens Property Insurance, none was greater than this:  He created a new job for his former legislative aide.

     

    Blog:  Can Citizens Property Insurance handle another Hurricane Andrew?

    It’s been 20 years since Hurricane Andrew ripped the roof off of Dr. Albert Zbik’s South Miami-Dade home, and flung it into his pool.

     

    Florida Wildlife Federation:  Citizens Property Insurance should be the insurer of last resort

    It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 20 years since Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Florida.

     

    Blog:  Penny-Wise and Billion-Pound-Foolish in Florida

    According to its official tourism marketing corporation, the State of Florida welcomed 87.3 million visitors in 2011, whose $67.2 billion of spending generated nearly a quarter of the state’s sales tax revenue.

     

    TIME Blog:  20 Years After Hurricane Andrew, Storm Costs and Ideology Loom Over Florida

    Hurricane Andrew, which slammed into South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992, was the second costliest storm in modern U.S. history.

     

    Editorial:  Twenty years after Hurricane Andrew, blow away free-market insurance dreams

    Governor Rick Scott’s stated priority is to reduce the cost of living in Florida.

     

    Letter:  Insurance costs paid by the “little people”

    After reading the recent articles in the PJ on the state of Florida health insurance, I found it amazing that “upper class” state employees were paying $8.34 a month for single coverage and they have me paying $305 per month for the same coverage.

     

    Florida’s election year trends:  Fewer voters, unopposed candidates

    In an election season dominated by headlines of voter fraud, dirty tricks and enormous campaign checks, two troubling trends have gotten little attention:  Low voter turnout and dozens of unopposed candidates.

     

    Florida would lose roughly a third of its federal Medicard money under GOP budget plans  

    Florida’s fast-growing Medicaid program which cares for the state’s impoverished children and for most senior citizens in nursing homes would lose roughly a third of its federal money under budget plans embraced by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan.

     

    State, local health officials prepare for Republican National Convention

    The Florida Department of Health and county health departments will have more than 100 people on hand in Tampa to help convention visitors with medical issues.

     

    Florida Governor Charlie Crist to speak at Democratic National Convention

    Florida’s former Republican Governor Charlie Crist will be a speaker at the Democratic National Convention.

     

    ISO Says States OK Optional By-Peril Rating Rules for Homeowners

    ISO says it has received approval of its Risk Analyzer Homeowners by-peril rating rules in 13 states and has filings pending approval in several other states.

     

    Vehicles “Held Hostage” by Towing Companies; Ransom Set for Half-Billion a Year

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records approximately 16 million traffic crashes in the U.S. each year, resulting in 10.9 million tows.

     

     

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