Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, December 15
Dec 15, 2008
Above: Charlie Crist and Carole Rome listen to Rev. David Miller during their wedding Friday at First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. Rome’s daughters Skylar, 10, and Jessica, 12, are in back. To view the wedding guest list, click here.
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SEC Investigating Florida’s Citizens Over Bid Placements
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on bid placements earlier this year on auction rate securities.
SEC probes Citizens transactions
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is examining transactions conducted by state-sponsored Citizens Property Insurance Corp. earlier this year involving the repurchase of more than $3 billion in auction-rate securities.
Customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. face major changes — including higher premiums and forced removal to the private market — if recommendations in a task force report are approved.
Fla. CFO in Bermuda to discuss cat fund options
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink met with reinsurers in Bermuda Friday to discuss the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and explore options for increasing the fund’s capacity.
State Sen. Fasano fuming over Citizens’ proposed changes
If state Sen. Mike Fasano has his way, there will be a battle in the Legislature over any move to take away rights of Citizens Property Insurance policyholders.
State Farm loses second bid to hike rates
A state judge found State Farm Florida Insurance’s demand for higher rates was based on often ambiguous, contradictory evidence.
Florida Supreme Court Won’t Review ‘Inherently Dangerous’ Product Case
The Florida Supreme Court has let stand a Broward County smoker’s $545,000 award in a tobacco case that also may affect liability claims for a broad range of other “inherently dangerous” products.
Miami-Dade Municipality Concerned it might lose Class 1 insurance rating
More bad news for the Coral Gables: It might lose the Class 1 rating on its building and zoning department from the insurance industry.
Fay spotlights insurance confusion
As Tropical Storm Fay stalled over Brevard County in August, billions of gallons of water overwhelmed river banks and stormwater systems across the Space Coast.
Appalachian Underwriters Opens Florida Office; Hires Gordon, Rupp
Marshall Gordon and Skylar Rupp have joined Tennessee-based Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. to market and underwrite workers’ compensation for professional employer organizations firms nationwide.
Ross Reflects on Issues During Political Break
For the first time in eight years, Dennis Ross’ phone is not ringing with constituents asking questions or from political movers and shakers wanting to get his ear.
Hanson joins Florida Municipal
Andrew Hanson has joined Florida Municipal Insurance Trust as an account executive.
Gevity gets funds back from AIG in premiums
Gevity HR, the locally based human resources outsourcing company, said it had received $32.7 million back in workers’ compensation premiums and a reinsurance contract loss recovery.
Editorial: State could play tough again to solve the insurance crisis
Last summer, State Farm lost its attempt for a 47 percent increase in homeowner premiums. So State Farm came back last week for a 67 percent increase that, correctly, was rejected.
Florida ranks dead last in access to emergency care
Florida ranks dead last in a national report card rating access to emergency care, according to a study released Tuesday by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Charlie Crist: Cover Florida offers uninsured residents new options
This week, Floridians are one step closer to having the affordable, quality health insurance options they deserve.
Obama reviews shuttle’s finale
The Obama administration is taking a sweeping look at NASA that focuses on plans to retire the nation’s aging shuttle fleet in 2010.
Conservative Fla. lawmakers see bright side of cuts
For the conservative Republicans who run the Legislature, the clouds gathering over the state budget have a silver lining – the opportunity to shrink government as never before.
Fla. legislators looking at eliminating state agencies
For the conservative Republicans who run the Legislature, the clouds gathering over the state budget have a silver lining — the opportunity to shrink government as never before.
‘Accelerate Florida’ road projects may be more salesmanship than economic boost
It was sold as an economic steroid shot.
Fla. Supreme Court nominating panel delays meeting
A state panel has delayed a conference call meeting on Gov. Charlie Crist’s request for a more diverse slate of nominees to fill an opening on Florida’s highest court.
Gov. Crist has chance to put stamp on state Supreme Court
Gov. Charlie Crist has a rare opportunity to shape the Florida Supreme Court in coming months with a pair of judicial appointments that have lasting implications for the state’s legal system.
State Party Leaders Likely Here To Stay
Despite some controversies over their tenure, both of Florida’s state party chairmen, Democrat Karen Thurman and Republican Jim Greer, appear headed for re-election to their posts.
It’s Gov. and Mrs. Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist, the 44th governor of Florida, who has spent two decades in public service and three decades alone, married Carole Rome last night at First United Methodist Church.
NAIC OKs lower collateral for non-U.S. reinsurers
The National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners must craft details and implementation plans of a recently adopted reinsurance regulatory regime that would relax requirements on non-U.S. reinsurers.
Insurer’s asbestos-related lawsuits at high court
The Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider reinstating a roughly $500 million settlement of asbestos-related lawsuits against the Travelers Companies Inc.
As FHA’s role grows, so does the risk of fraud
During the subprime boom, the Federal Housing Administration, created in 1934 to help lower-income and first-time buyers purchase homes, all but sat out the party.
GAO Report Says Insurers Not Offering NBCR
Commercial property-casualty insurers in general still remain unwilling to provide nuclear, biological, chemical and radiation (NBCR) coverage under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act due to uncertainties about the risk and the degree of catastrophic loss, the Government Accountability Office said.
Sen. Baucus Lays Out Tax & Health Care Reform Plans
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee laid out plans for next year to deal with issues of estate taxes and health care reform for the upcoming legislative session.
Increasing number of bankruptcies trouble workers comp self-insurers
As economic conditions deteriorate and bankruptcies rise, managers of self-insured workers compensation guaranty funds across the United States say they fear they will have to take over more employers’ claims payments.
Homeowners, insurers increasingly fight over roofs
It’s not uncommon for home-owners and insurers to argue over repairs.
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