Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: August 25, 2010
Aug 25, 2010
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Florida regulators investigate rash of sinkhole claims
State insurance regulators are investigating what they see as a surge in sinkhole claims outside the traditional “sinkhole alley” in Hernando and Pasco counties.
Plant City needs millions to fix sinkholes, repair roads
City and Hillsborough County officials say it will cost millions of dollars to repair sinkholes that have closed roads and forced the city to drain a water tank.
Federal government throws up roadblock to Florida’s Medicaid reform
Officials want to address issues before expediting process
Federal health officials want changes to be made to the Medicaid experiment that has put private managed-care companies in charge of covering thousands of patients in Northeast Florida.
Rick Scott wins tight GOP race for governor; Alex Sink wins Democratic nod
Rick Scott launched a one-man political revolution Tuesday night, defeating Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican primary for governor.
- Scott upset ripples beyond Florida
- Loss ends 24 years of public service by McCollum
- Scott’s $50M made difference in campaign
Blog: John Thrasher, Rick Scott to meet in Fort Lauderdale
Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher confirms he will go to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday for a face-to-face meeting with Rick Scott, the GOP nominee for governor.
Meek win over Greene sets up showdown with Rubio, Crist
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek trounced Palm Beach real-estate billionaire Jeff Greene in the Democratic primary Tuesday, setting up a three-way U.S. Senate race with Gov. Charlie Crist and Republican Marco Rubio.
Gelber, Bondi win primaries for attorney general
Former prosecutor Pam Bondi capitalized on a strong showing in her home base of Tampa Bay to win the Republican nomination for state attorney general and will face state Sen. Dan Gelber in the general election.
Florida wins $700 million in Race to the Top federal grant money
The U.S. Education Department said Tuesday that Florida, eight other states and the nation’s capital will get money to reform schools in the second round of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top grant competition.
Tainted eggs not a problem in Florida
Despite a massive recall of salmonella-tainted eggs nationwide, none have reached Florida so far, according to public health officials.
Federal judge rejects Miccosukees’ request to stop Everglades land deal with U.S. Sugar
The tribe contends the deal takes money from other Everglades needs
A federal judge Monday refused to stop the downsized, $197 million version of Gov. Charlie Crist’s Everglades restoration land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp.
Sink joins McCollum in demand for revamp of BP claims czar process
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink wants oil disaster claims czar Ken Feinberg to revamp his process for paying individuals and business owners who say BP’s massive oil disaster caused them to lose revenues or suffer other damages.
Public Service Commission calls on FPL chief to appear
The Public Service Commission called on FPL’s CEO to explain costs involved in nuclear power plant planning
Florida Power & Light’s chief executive, Armando Olivera, should be required to appear before the Public Service Commission to explain why the company provided inaccurate information last year regarding the cost of its nuclear power projects, Commissioner Nathan Skop said Tuesday.
Florida Public Service Commission hearing testimony on nuclear rates
The Florida Public Service Commission is hearing testimony on whether to continue but reduce a special rate levied in electricity bills to build new nuclear power plants.
Public Service Commission Hopefuls Have Ties to Utilities
GOP-controlled panel picks 7 who have links to firms they’d regulate
Seven finalists vying to replace two incumbent Florida public service commissioners spurned by a nominating panel have connections to utilities or their regulation.
Florida No. 2 for credit card delinquency
Florida had the second-highest rate of credit card delinquency in the nation in the second quarter of this year, according to the most recent report from TransUnion.
Counties could claim “crazy” recycling rates above 100 percent under new law
How does a county recycle more than 100 percent of its waste?
Greer’s reimbursement check to GOP falls short, and bounces
Indicted former state Republican chairman Jim Greer sued the state party for allegedly reneging on a promised $123,000 severance package.
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. reaches $23 million settlement
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has reached a $23 million settlement with thousands of plaintiffs who say they were not properly compensated after hurricanes Katrina and Rita for the work needed to coordinate repairs on their homes.
Travelers wins big award in 17-year asbestos case
Munich Re unit, Excess Casualty pool ordered to pay
A New York state judge has awarded Travelers Cos $262.3 million plus interest in a 17-year-old reinsurance case over asbestos coverage whose facts date back to the late 1940s.
Colorado workers’ comp insurer Pinnacol ordered to refund at least $15 million, pay fine
Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, will have to give back to policyholders at least $15 million and pay a separate fine after state regulators found the insurer improperly set rates for eight years.
The New York Times: I.R.S. Plan to Uncover Companies’ Tax Strategies
It is the tax world’s version of blind man’s bluff.
Louisiana insurance market stable
State survives hurricanes, has good story to tell, commissioner says
Five years after the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana has a stable, but more expensive, property insurance market, a statewide building code and even hope that the costs of policies will come down, speakers at an Insurance Department event said Monday.
U.S. ‘No Better Off’ Now Than After Hurricane Katrina
A nonprofit organization in support of the Homeowners Defense Act is using the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina to remind lawmakers the country is no better off today.
Southern Farmers Complain About Disaster Aid Program
The permanent disaster aid program in the 2008 Farm Bill was intended to spare Congress from having to scrape up extra money every time a drought, flood or hurricane struck farm country, but growers in the South claim the plan has failed them.
Homeowners Coverage Knowledge Gap Wide Among Consumers
Many Americans admit to having a knowledge gap when it comes to what their home insurance actually covers, according to a new survey.
Georgia sinkhole swallows Sonic drive-in
So much for hitting the Sonic drive-thru if you’re passing through Cleveland, Georgia.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to bellis@cftlaw.com.