Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, July 29
Jul 29, 2013
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
State Representative John Wood: Florida Property Insurance Reform is Needed
Property-insurance reform is necessary because Florida relies on the trinity of insurance market “stabilizers” known as the Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and Florida Guaranty Insurance Association, State Representative John Wood writes in this Lakeland Ledger editorial opinion.
State Farm suing 1-800-ASK-GARY founder for fraud
State Farm Insurance is suing Dr. Gary Kompothecras, the Siesta Key chiropractor behind the accident and laywer hotline 1-800-ASK-GARY, reports WTSP-TV in Tampa.
Florida Blue Cross Overcharging by Billions, Re-organization Plan Opponents Say
The proposed reorganization of Florida’s largest health insurer will transfer $1.6 billion of the nonprofit company’s $2.8 billion surplus to a for-profit stock company and should be “rejected by regulators and protested by policyholders and the public,” one group opposing the plan says. Charles Elmore reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Blog: Florida deregulates health insurers, shifts blame to federal government
Your mailbox will be the next front in the national battle over health care reform, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports.
Florida closer to regulating parasailing after latest accident
Suddenly, there’s new momentum behind legislation to regulate parasailing, Anthony Mann reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett confirmed school district superintendents’ concerns Friday with the release of 2013 elementary and middle school grades, The Florida Current’s James Call reports.
Few Florida Lawmakers Initially Opposed Stand Your Ground
While the “Gunshine State” finds itself in the crosshairs of world public opinion, the lawmakers who approved “stand your ground” in 2005 have received little, if any, electoral blowback, writes Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times’ Michael Van Sickler and Steve Bousquet in the Lakeland Ledger.
Looming budget cuts will cripple federal public defenders office
The top public defender for Florida’s Middle District is warning that her office, and others like it nationwide, would be crippled — imperiling the right of poor defendants to get a speedy trial — if Congress doesn’t prevent another round of deep budget cuts expected next year, Orlando Sentinel’s Mark Matthews reports.
Tax strategy saves time-share industry tens of millions
Orlando-based Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp., the world’s No. 2 time-share seller, recently discovered an easy way to cut its U.S. tax bill: Pay some of it later.
Nan Rich brings her uphill run for governor to Tallahassee
Nan Rich is running for governor pretty much the way she ran the Senate minority caucus in her final two years as a Florida legislator, Bill Cotterell reports for The Florida Current.
Louisiana U.S. Senator Says Fugate Promotion Should Hinge on Flood Rate Stabilization
Sen. David Vitter, R-La. is urging President Barack Obama to wait before promoting FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, reports Bruce Alpert for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
SAC Capital pleads not guilty; Bermuda reinsurance unit eyed
Billionaire investor Steven A. Cohen’s hedge fund pleaded not guilty on Friday to insider trading charges in federal court, as questions also surfaced about the future of SAC Capital’s Bermuda-based reinsurance unit, SAC Re, Reuters reports.
Sullivan to Join Texas Division of Workers’ Comp as Deputy Commissioner
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation announced that Kerry D. Sullivan will join the agency as Deputy Commissioner for Hearings, effective Sept. 3, 2013, Insurance Journal reports.
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