Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, February 1

Feb 1, 2010

 

 

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Senator Mike Fasano:  Insurance rates must be affordable

In my capacity as a member of the Florida Legislature, I have always been intrigued by the rich history of our state.

 

Blog:  Citizens policyholders concerned about insurer’s costs in light of rate hikes

More than a dozen Citizens Property Insurance policyholders and others wrote or called last week to say they were disturbed by our report that the state-backed insurer’s compensation costs increased by 50 percent in the past few years though the insurer has trimmed hundreds of thousands of policies since its peak of 1.4 million in Oct. 2007.

 

Editorial:  Property insurance deregulation too costly

This has been a tough year for property insurance consumers in the state of Florida.

 

60 of 67 Florida counties designated as disaster areas due to freeze

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 60 of Florida’s 67 counties as primary natural disaster areas, caused by cold weather and freezing conditions during the past month.

 

Daytona-Based Brown & Brown buys part of New Mexico firm

Brown & Brown Inc. has bought certain assets of Insurance Exchange Inc. of Albuquerque, N.M., for an undisclosed sum.

 

Florida State Senator Nancy Detert:  Chinese drywall on front burner

Many people have contacted my office regarding the Chinese drywall issue. We are well aware of the drywall problem and all problems associated with it. We are working to come up with solutions as quickly as possible.

 

Conservative Florida and other State Lawmakers Seek Ban On Mandatory Insurance

Conservative lawmakers from 25 states have introduced legislation aimed at preempting any federal bill requiring an individual to buy health insurance.

 

Bradenton looking for red light magistrate

With more red light cameras coming, city officials expect more drivers to contest $125 fines.

 

Blog:  Florida House Speaker Cretul outlines plan for unemployment tax fix

Here is House Speaker Larry Cretul’s memo today outlining the plan for dealing with the unemployment tax the first week of session.

 

Blue Cross seeking rate increase on Cover Florida plans

The Jacksonville insurer projects losses of 23 cents for every dollar at collects unless the increase is approved.

Cover Florida was designed to be what the state’s 3.8 million uninsured residents had been waiting for: an affordable, accessible alternative to expensive health insurance plans.

 

Florida hospitals handling hundreds of Haiti victims, state official says

Already nearly 500 gravely injured Haitian earthquake victims have been brought to hospitals in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties for treatment, a top state official said today.

 

Editorial: The $3 million bite

If a prisoner in the Alachua County jail gets sick and has no health insurance, the county pays the bill.

 

Bank of Florida Corp. lost more than $108 million in 2009

Losses widened for Bank of Florida Corp. in 2009.

 

Court ruling may not change Fla. campaigns

The death knell for democracy? Or a vital protection for First Amendment rights?

 

CFO Sink:  Ft. Myers Bail Bondsmen Arrested on Multiple Felony Charges

Suspects accused of grand theft and other illegal activity

Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced the arrests of Ft. Myers bail bond agent and business owner Onil Martinez and unlicensed bail bond agent Wilfredo Gonzalez, who allegedly committed multiple crimes including stealing $90,000 in bond collateral. 

 

Legislator calls Crist’s gambling plan ‘garbage’

State Rep. Alan Hayes blasted the governor’s plan for expanded gambling at Seminole Tribe casinos Friday, saying the state needs a compact “that benefits Floridians, not Seminoles and Miccosukees.”

 

Attorney General: Statewide Grand Jury will Help Restore Trust in Government

Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued the following statement on the upcoming statewide grand jury on public corruption, which is scheduled to begin jury selection next week.

 

The $4.4 billion question: who will ride the train?

Central Florida is in for a culture shock.

 

Grouper rule carries a cost

Grouper rules could sink charter fishing operations

For many visitors, a trip to Florida is as much about catching grouper in the Gulf of Mexico as a day at the beach or Disney World.

 

Florida lands Naval carrier

The Navy will station an nuclear aircraft carrier at Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville, an announcement that could bring thousands of jobs to the area.

 

Safety for the Super Bowl

The vast security operation protecting the Super Bowl and surrounding events ranges from Air Force F-16s patrolling the skies above Miami on game day to a buffer zone extending at least 100 yards out from the stadium.

 

Judge cancels more charges in New York Marsh bid-rigging case

A New York state judge Friday dismissed criminal charges against more former insurance executives who had pleaded guilty to charges in connection with New York’s bid-rigging investigation involving Marsh Inc.

 

Indiana Says Nix To NAIC Climate Survey 

Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels  ordered his state’s insurance department not to participate in a National Association of Insurance Commissioners climate risk survey, one official said.

 

California Insurance Commissionr Insurance Says His Post Should Be Appointed

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said that his position has become too politicized and should return to being one that’s appointed by the governor.

 

Guy Carpenter Places New Reinsurance Program For Gulf Insurance Group

Structure Combines Reinsurance Programs of Six of the Group’s Companies Into a Single Program

Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist, has today announced the completion of a new reinsurance structure for Gulf Insurance Group.

 

Allstate may shed 20% of its agents

Allstate Corp. insurance agents are bracing for a shakeup that they say could winnow their ranks by about a fifth.

 

Arbitration Forums Says In 2009 It Handled Over 520,000 Disputes 

Arbitration Forums Inc. dispute resolution service said it resolved more than 520,000 inter-company claims disputes valued at nearly $2.5 billion in 2009.

 

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