Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, June 8

Jun 8, 2011

 

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 insurance-related events scheduled today.

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

Tampa Bay area AAA Auto Club South to combine with Midwest counterpart; will expand into auto and homeowners insurance

Tampa Bay area AAA Auto Club South plans to combine its operations with the nonprofit’s Midwest counterpart, enabling it to expand services including auto and homeowners insurance policies.

 

Blog:  Florida’s two largest private home insurers deemed weak at start of hurricane season

Weiss Ratings, which rates the financial health of companies, reported last week that the state’s two largest private insurers – State Farm Florida and Universal Property & Casualty – are in poor financial shape.

 

In fighting health care law, Florida rejects millions in federal aid

Florida already leads a lawsuit challenging the federal health care law, but state officials are going a step further and ignoring the law almost entirely – rejecting millions of federal dollars to provide health care for retirees, seniors, children and people with disabilities.

 

State to Hear from Public on Medicaid Plan

With public hearings starting Friday on Florida’s new Medicaid overhaul, a physician who serves on a state advisory panel questioned Tuesday whether the plan would attract doctors.

 

Blog:  House Democrats want Florida Attorney General Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Atwater to seek more answers on Governor Scott budget-signing

Florida House Democrats urged a pair of Republican Cabinet members Tuesday to push for more answers and an apology from Republican Governor Rick Scott for his office’s role in bullying a couple dozen Democratic protesters at last month’s budget-signing ceremony.

 

Democrat wants ban of corporate donations

Democratic provocateur Jon Ausman on Tuesday called on the Florida Democratic Party to create a code of ethics and take a cue from the national party by banning donations from corporations and lobbyists.

Judge says state should throw out multi-million dollar contract with Microsoft

An administrative judge ruled Tuesday that Microsoft Corp. should not have won a nearly $24 million contract to develop a new web-based system intended to help students, parents and teachers in Florida master new standards.

 

Report puts Florida at top of the list for foreclosures

Florida has once again been deemed the center of the nation’s suffering housing market, as a new study shows the state is responsible for more foreclosures than any other state.

 

Turf battle looming between powerhouse universities and state board

An attempt by leaders of Florida’s state university system to plan for the future and avoid duplication among rival schools is running into the same kind of resistance that has doomed past efforts.

 

Blog:  Craig Miller, former Ruth’s Chris CEO, leaning toward US Senate run in Florida

Former Ruth’s Chris Steak House CEO Craig Miller is now leaning toward a Senate run in Florida, visiting Washington D.C. this week to meet with Republican officials and conservative groups ahead of a possible bid, reports Politico.

 

Blog:  Governor Scott to announce months-old relocation plans for Montreal company

The Buzz is that Governor Rick Scott’s big announcement tomorrow is that a Montreal-based armored-car company is moving its U.S. headquarters from Pasadena, California to Boca Raton.

 

Texas Windstorm Insurance Issue Added to Special Session

Texas Governor Rick Perry has added legislation relating to the operation of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association as an issue to be addressed during the special session of the Legislature that began on May 31.

 

Texas windstorm insurance group facing overhaul is doing better, leader says

As members of a Texas House committee heard Tuesday about a bill tackling the operations of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the new manager of the association insisted that the oft-maligned insurer has improved and would be able to handle a sizable storm this year.

 

Louisiana state police:  Insurance agent fatally shot 2 fraud investigators looking at his business

Authorities were probing the deaths Wednesday of two unarmed state investigators shot dead by a troubled small-town insurance agent whose office they were paying a visit.

 

Insurance Industry Not Ready To Comply With New York City Builder Rules

Building contractors run into problems doing business in New York City after June 13 when a new set of insurance requirements is scheduled to take effect, says an independent agent group.

 

Marsh Launches Index-Based Insurance Option for Earthquake, Windstorm Risks

Marsh now offers an option for organizations with significant earthquake and/or windstorm exposures that are unable to purchase enough insurance to adequately protect their assets.

 

RRG Bill Provides Mechanism To Settle Disputes With States

A bill has been introduced that would establish a federal mechanism to resolve disputes between risk retention groups and non-domiciliary states.

 

 

 

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