Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, April 28
Apr 28, 2008
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One week to go and still much to do
Insurance and property tax problems aren’t in the Legislative limelight like in past years, and other business issues are having a tough time getting Tallahassee’s attention at all.
BRUCE DOUGLAS: Property-Insurance Legislation
The Florida Senate has shown leadership and vision in crafting consumer-focused property-insurance legislation.
5 questions with Bruce Douglas
A wide-ranging insurance bill passed by the state Senate nearly two weeks ago contains substantial changes for the state-run insurer, Citizens Property Insurance.
State insurer would package all coverage
Insurance reforms in Tallahassee could add thousands to new homeowners’ yearly bills in the Keys.
EDITORIAL: Bill would give Citizens a monopoly
A well-intended Senate bill (SB 2860) contains a provision that would prohibit Citizens Property Insurance Corp. from selling a wind-only policy to new applicants, instead requiring it to sell all perils like fire, theft, liability and more.
Citizens settles over storm suit
Citizens Property Insurance has been sued hundreds of times over insurance claims resulting from the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, but it’s doubtful many of the disputes have been as contentious as the one brought by North Miami resident David Leven.
House and Senate budget chiefs agreed Sunday on a $65 billion-plus state budget deal, including a 5 percent reduction in the salaries of Florida lawmakers who have made painful spending tradeoffs in a second straight year of declining state revenues.
Final week of Florida Legislature’s session features controversial measures
Florida legislators starting their final workweek today still face the session’s major issues, including revamping public school assessment tests, finding health-care coverage for millions of uninsured Floridians and easing the rules for building nuclear power plants.
Florida’s major issues remain unresolved
Veteran Sen. Jim King gave a blunt answer last week when asked to give an overview of the state legislative session.
The legislative session is ending the way it began, with lawmakers slashing into the state budget.
The fate of a health insurance plan for 3.8 million Floridians uncertain.
A health coverage plan for 3.8 million uninsured Floridians has stalled amid the down-to-the-wire politics of a state lawmaking session where there has been too little money and trust to ensure swift passage.
Miami Herald tracks allocation of taxes
Most state lawmakers don’t pay close attention to which regions kick in most of the state’s taxes — and no one closely tracks where all the money winds up.
Democrats try to win Feeney’s House seat on Space Coast
Republican Congressman Tom Feeney wants voters in his district to know about his work on space issues. Democrats want them to know about his golfing with a criminal lobbyist.
Voters to learn who is serious
Choices: petition, pay up or get out
Since Dave Weldon announced in January that he would not seek a seventh term in Congress, more than a dozen people have said they were considering a run to replace the Indialantic Republican.
Bill targets marine industries
A bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives this week could reduce the cost of worker’s compensation insurance for many South Florida boat repair yards and manufacturers, an industry group said Friday.
Supreme Court Weighs Insurer’s Conflict of Interest in Claims Denials
The Supreme Court struggled last week with how much weight to give an insurance company’s potential conflict of interest when it denies an employee’s health or disability benefits claim.
Liberty’s Purchase Of Safeco Hailed By Agents, But Rating Agencies Wary
Liberty Mutual Group’s surprise announcement that it plans to acquire Safeco Corp. for $6.2 billion was met with positive comments from independent agent representatives, but cautious skepticism by rating agencies concerned about the deal’s financing.
Pioneer In Field Says Insurers Are Too Reliant On Catastrophe Models
Insurers have become too dependent on catastrophe models when deciding which risks should be cancelled and which ones are acceptable, Karen Clark, founder of the first cat modeling firm, warned at an industry gathering in New York City.
Higher Chance Of Hurricane Strike On U.S. Foreseen
AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center meteorologists released an early hurricane season forecast today that finds the number of storms will be slightly above average and the chances of one hitting the United States has increased.
Buffett, Munger will again field shareholders’ questions
The wisdom of billionaires Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger will be on display again next weekend when the two men field questions from a throng of shareholders.
State Farm Settles Katrina Case in Mississippi
A lawyer says State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. has settled a civil lawsuit with a Mississippi couple whose Biloxi home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Nevada Insurance Regulator to Retire
Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman is stepping down after a long regulatory career that included approval in 2007 of a $2.6 billion deal involving Nevada’s largest health insurer–a deal that troubled Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Insurers Boost State Economy by $27.3 Billion
California has a $1.6 trillion economy that ranks it as a global financial power, thanks in part to a multi-billion dollar boost from the insurance industry, according to a new report.
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