Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, May 7

 

 

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Appeals Court Sides with Florida Against Coventry in Records Case

A federal appellate court sided with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation against Coventry First, upholding a lower court decision that allows state insurance regulators to seek information on the provider’s out-of-state transactions.

 

Chinese drywall homes for sale draw some buyers

Showing up on real estate agents’ listings these days: homes with caustic, smelly Chinese drywall.  Also showing up: willing buyers.

 

Property owners and developers along the US south coast bracing for impact of massive oil leak

Millions of property owners along the southern coast of the US are hoping that attempts by oil giant BP to cap the leak in the Gulf of Mexico will work as it is feared that the sludge threatening the shores could wreak long term damage on real estate that borders the shore.

• Florida Gov. Crist asks Obama for federal assistance to help with oil-spill costs
• Florida joins other Gulf states to demand oil spill companies put money commitment in writing
• McCollum: BP pledges to act on financial claims within two days
• Crist Eyes Special Session to Put Drilling Ban on Ballot
• Florida Legislative Leaders: No oil drilling talk in 2011
• Florida Democrats seize on oil drilling as campaign issue
• Florida oil cleanup funds available in short-term
• Impact forecast for Thursday is just the first wave in ‘ginormous’ disaster
• Federal Regulator Deferred to Oil Industry on Offshore Rig Safety

 

Efforts being made to banish ‘pill mills’ in Southwest Florida

Coalitions have been formed and ordinances drafted to combat the migration of pain clinics — often referred to as “pill mills” — and their patients to the area.

 

Thousands of Florida seniors miss out on Medicare drug help

More qualify, should apply for ‘extra help’ subsidies this year

Tens of thousands of South Florida seniors are passing up as much as $3,900 a year in Medicare help paying for their prescription drugs because they are eligible but have not applied.

 

Crist bombarded with abortion pleas

Less than a week after lawmakers passed a bill requiring ultrasounds before women can receive abortions, groups on both sides of the controversial issue are rallying supporters to try to influence whether Gov. Charlie Crist brings out his veto pen.

 

Blog:  Republicans’ refund demand letter includes only 8 who gave to Crist 2010 U.S. Senate Campaign

It turns out that only 8 of those 20 who signed the letter show up on Crist’s  list of campaign contributors through the latest reporting period ending March 31.

 

In Florida governor’s race, McCollum seeks the black vote

State Attorney General Bill McCollum has tapped Northeast Florida’s Republican leadership in an effort to go after the black vote in the governor’s race.

 

Rick Scott, multimillionaire political rookie, gunning to be governor of Florida

You may be wondering about that bald guy, Rick Scott, who keeps popping up on TV talking about getting elected governor of Florida.

 

Republican Party of Florida releases $7.3 million in American Express statements

The Republican Party of Florida released internal records Friday detailing $7.3 million in credit card charges made since 2007.

 

Editorial: Florida Public Service Commission payback

When the Florida Public Service Commission broke with tradition last summer and rejected big rate hikes for the state’s two largest power companies, it was hailed as historic because no one could remember the last time the PSC had turned down the utilities.

 

Editorial:  Shine more light on government in Florida

This is normally the time, just after Florida legislators have ended their annual session, when open-government advocates assess the damage to their cause.

 

Florida’s Mercantile Bank parent South Financial faces restrictions

The South Financial Group is barred from making dividends without first getting approval from regulators as part of a written agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

 

North Carolina Rate Bureau Proposes Credits for Storm-Proofing Homes

The North Carolina Rate Bureau has filed a proposal with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to provide homeowners insurance credits for implementing certain property protection measures, including several based on the Institute for Business & Home Safety’s FORTIFIED building programs.

 

Idaho Hires Insurance Department Bureau Chief

The Idaho Department of Insurance announced that Gina McBride has been selected as the new bureau chief of consumer services replacing Jim Genetti, who is retiring in June.

 

Trades Decry ‘Weakening’ National Insurance Office Bill 

Eight insurance industry trade groups have written the Senate urging it to reject an amendment they said would “substantially weaken” the proposed Office of National Insurance’s authority to address international trade issues.

 

Workers comp insurers in ‘precarious position’: NCCI

The state of the U.S. workers compensation insurance industry is in a “precarious position” following a trying 2009, while economic uncertainties remain ahead, said NCCI Holdings Inc.

 

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. nominee Gotbaum clears U.S. Senate hurdle

Joshua Gotbaum, President Barack Obama’s nominee for director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

 

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