Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, February 27

Feb 27, 2014

 

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

 

There are no events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

Possible Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund purchase of private reinsurance sparks backlash

Officials with the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, the state reinsurance fund, are considering a proposal to buy up to $1.5 billion of reinsurance on the private market, with the likely effect of small rate increases for homeowners, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.

 

State of Florida Won’t Budge On Backyard Gun Range Issue

The Florida Attorney General has confirmed cities are powerless to protect residents from firearm target shooting in dense urban residential neighborhoods, Susannah Bryan reports for the Sun-Sentinel.

 

Feds approve disaster relief for oyster industry

Apalachicola Bay and Florida’s oyster industry are going to get some financial assistance from the federal government, Associated Press reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

 

Feds to fine state over limit on Medicaid patients’ emergency room visits

Florida has been limiting Medicaid patients to six emergency room visits a year even though federal officials consider such a cap illegal, Tampa Bay Times’ Jodie Tillman and Tia Mitchell report.

 

Senate Proposal Would Revamp Trauma Approvals

After more than two years of legal and political wrangling in the hospital industry, a Senate proposal would overhaul the way Florida approves trauma centers and could ensure that three disputed trauma facilities remain open, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Governor Scott says he would veto Arizona anti-gay law

Governor Rick Scott said Wednesday he would veto Arizona’s pending discrimination law in Florida, Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports.

 

For Rick Scott, it’s about tax cuts and budget in 2014

Governor Rick Scott, weighed down by lackluster poll numbers and a Republican Legislature intent on pursuing its own contentious reforms, appears content to keep it simple as he heads into the 2014 Session, Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via the St. Augustine Record.

 

Integrity Florida wants Enterprise Florida investigated

A government watchdog group called for an investigation Wednesday into “lavish travel and wasteful government purchasing practices” by Governor Rick Scott’s economic development partnership — which replied that its entertainment and business trips are well within legislative limits, and paying off handsomely, The Florida Current’s Bill Cotterell reports.

 

David Rivera named by Justin Lamar Sternad in illegal money scandal

For the first time, a convicted congressional candidate has stated in federal records that former U.S. Rep. David Rivera was a part of the conspiracy to funnel illegal contributions to his campaign, the Miami Herald’s Marc Caputo reports.

 

Offshore wind farms can tame hurricanes, study finds

Offshore wind farms can tame hurricanes rather than be destroyed by them, says ground-breaking research led by Stanford University that touts the benefits of wind power.  USA Today’s Wendy Koch reports.

 

U.S. House postpones vote on flood insurance bill

Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives postponed a bill to roll back flood insurance rate increases that had been scheduled for a vote this week, Josh Boatwright reports for the Tampa Tribune.

 

Senator Warren:  Terrorism Risk Insurance Act is a Giveaway

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) startled fellow lawmakers on Tuesday by describing a commercial real estate terrorism risk insurance program as a “giveaway.”  Josh Kosman reports for the New York Post.

 

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner reminds taxpayers of available rebate

Louisiana’s insurance commissioner is reminding taxpayers to claim the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Assessment rebate this tax season.  The Associated Press reports via WWLTV.com.

 

No Insurance, No Ridesharing, Cities Tell UberX, Lyft and Others

Using mobile apps to connect passengers with drivers, ridesharing services like UberX and Lyft say they are bringing new zip to transportation. But a number of cities say they don’t want to share the road until they get something utilitarian: better insurance, Reuters’ Sarah McBride reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.

 

 

Click here to follow Colodny Fass& Webb on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)

 

 

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.