Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, February 20

Feb 20, 2009

 

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Encompass ending property insurance in Florida

The decision will affect 13,000 property owners in the state.

Encompass sent letters this week to its Florida customers notifying them the company will withdraw from the state’s property insurance market.

 

New House Council To Address Florida Disaster Risk Management

Among other charges designed to address “Florida’s long-range challenges and opportunities,” the newly-created House Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning will make recommendations on the “management of risks to the State caused by hurricanes or other natural disasters.”

 

Northern Capital Insurance Group prepared to write 50,000 State Farm Homeowner Policies in Florida

Today, Northern Capital Insurance Group, a Florida-based carrier committed to providing Floridians with homeowners, commercial and auto insurance, announced they are prepared to insure 50,000 State Farm customers as the insurer withdraws from Florida.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  Flores Files Workers’ Comp Lawyer Fee Cap Bill

A measure that would repeal the requirement that lawyers fees in workers compensation cases be “reasonable,” and instead restore a legislatively-set attorney fee schedule was filed this week in the House by Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami.

 

Governor Crist Unveils 2009-10 Budget, Legislative Priorities Aimed at Strengthening Florida’s Economy

Seeks funding and policies to strengthen schools, protect property owners, keep government accountable, and promote clean emissions and renewable energy

Governor Charlie Crist today outlined his proposed $66.5-billion budget and a number of legislative priorities for the upcoming 2009 Legislative Session.

 

State Farm Agents Are Worried

Tim Holladay, who has been a State Farm agent for more than 30 years, told a Senate committee Thursday that he now wakes up in the early morning hours each day thinking about the employees in his small New Port Richey insurance agency.

 

PRESIDENT, BRIGHTWAY INSURANCE:  Florida-based insurers are hope for future

The letter by Tom Cothron in the Feb. 11 Palm Beach Post is accurate in contending that the state must promote a private insurance market and “repair its relationship with insurers.”

 

Dixon Hughes Establishes Florida Presence with Integration of Orlando-Based Rosenfield & Company

In a move that will expand the Southeast super regional CPA firm’s footprint into Florida, Dixon Hughes PLLC announced that it would integrate the practice of Orlando-based Rosenfield & Company, P.A. effective February 1.

 

Wildfire season is upon us

A wildfire season expected to rival some of the worst on record is already flaring across Southwest Florida, as unusually dry weather ignites a tinderbox of frost-killed leaves and grasses.

 

Watch out:  Drivers who lack valid licenses are filling South Florida roads

South Florida’s roads are jammed – with drivers lacking valid licenses.

 

WellCare Drug Plans Frozen

Federal regulators on Thursday suspended WellCare Health Plans Inc. from signing up new customers for its Medicare-backed insurance and drug plans, and sternly scolded the company for faults.

 

Governor Crist Signs Agreement with U.S. Department of Labor to Increase Unemployment Benefits for Floridians

Federal stimulus money will increase weekly benefits by $25 for remainder of 2009

Governor Charlie Crist today, continuing his efforts to strengthen the economy and help Floridians affected by the current economic downturn, signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to increase weekly unemployment benefits by $25 per week, bringing $345 million to Florida during the 2009 calendar year.

 

Congress to freeze Space Florida’s funding

Wants agency to finish master plan

Lawmakers Thursday said Space Florida needs to get its guiding principles in order and the director of the public-private industry advocate agreed.

 

Water grid plan carries big price, big controversy

Hundreds of miles of pipelines would cross nine counties

Having less water in Florida could lead to building some really big water lines.

 

Lawmakers spar over union ballots

Organized labor and business interests squared off Thursday as two Republican legislators offered a constitutional amendment aimed at nullifying a major union bill in Congress.

 

President Obama warns mayors not to ‘waste’ stimulus money

President Barack Obama warned Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and other big city mayors Friday that he’s expecting the stimulus money to be spent on deserving projects — and not wasted on political pork.

 

Two Governors and the GOP Future

Republicans are faced with a dilemma.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is mooted as a GOP presidential contender, as is South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

 

Scripps grand opening in Jupiter ushers in ‘bioscience century’

Why here? Why now?

Why is Scripps Florida important?

 

U.S. Regulator Sees Future Role for Mortgage Insurance Industry

The main regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Thursday said he sees a future for mortgage insurance companies that underwrite many loans for the two mortgage finance giants.

 

Allstate, State Farm win dismissal in Katrina case

A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of Allstate Corp and State Farm Fire and Casualty Co from a lawsuit accusing them of overbilling the U.S. government for flood damage in Louisiana related to the 2005 storm Hurricane Katrina.

 

Dinallo: No Exceptions From N.Y. Financial Statement Rules

New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo notified insurers yesterday that exceptions from capital and surplus accounting standards granted by other states must not be reflected in New York financial statements they must file by March 1.

 

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