Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, May 4
May 4, 2010
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Crist ponders veto of property insurance bill for second year in a row
The veto watch began Monday for an industry-backed insurance bill that received limited vetting as it won approval in the final moments of the legislative session.
Property Insurance Bill Is Only the Beginning
In the eyes of consumers and insurance groups, the massive property insurance bill that passed during the waning hours of the 2010 legislative session is a study in compromise. While declaring that he is “not overly enthusiastic about the bill,” Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Sean Shaw did concede that the legislation benefits both companies and consumers.
McCarty and Sink Still Pen Pals over Florida property insurance
Florida CFO Alex Sink and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty continue their letter writing campaigns to one another on the subject of property insurance.
Florida’s Magnolia Insurance Latest to Be Liquidated
Magnolia Insurance Co. of Coconut Grove, Fla., ordered into administrative supervision late last year, has consented to the liquidation, according to documents in the Circuit Court in Leon County, Fla.
Florida’s senior citizens to get more protection from fraud
After three years of trying, a law that would better protect older Floridians from several types of insurance and annuities fraud was passed by the Florida Legislature last month.
Jury rules for Disney in Tower of Terror case
A Philadelphia man said Disney’s Tower of Terror caused his stroke in 1998.
An Orange County jury decided Monday that there was nothing unsafe about Walt Disney World’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride, ending a lawsuit brought by a Philadelphia man who said it caused his stroke in 1998.
News Release: Attorney General Recovers $2.9 Million For Violations Against Federal Anti Spam Act
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida will receive $2.9 million from a settlement with an internet-based advertising company.
Nearly 142,000 Floridians exhaust unemployment benefits
Nearly 142,000 Florida residents have exhausted all their state and federal emergency unemployment benefits, though about 80,000 could qualify for extended benefits recently passed by the Florida Legislature, the state work force agency said Monday.
Blog: Florida U.S. Senator Nelson files bill to raise oil spill liability
U.S. Sen Bill Nelson is pushing an effort to up the amount oil companies must pay for economic damages caused by oil spills like the massive Deepwater Horizon blast spreading through the Gulf of Mexico.
- Crist to meet with Gulf Coast guvs, Obama officials and tour oil leak HQ
- Florida tourism to get federal help
- Offshore Oil-Drilling Issue Dead in Florida, for Now
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection official: ‘The magnitude of this spill is daunting’
- Florida widens its oil spill watch
- Gulf oil spill: Crist, McCollum, Sink visit Panhandle today
- Oil slick has candidates sliding away from offshore drilling
- Florida officials say spill response too clumsy
- On beach, doom begins to set in as oil spill moves in
- Florida Panhandle residents demand answers from BP
- Pensacola businesses file suits against BP over oil spill
- Blog: BP pressuring fisherman to sign legal agreements, oil continues to flood Gulf
- BP CEO: Oil Claim Waivers a ‘Misstep,’ Will Not Be Enforced
- Oil spill already hurting Panhandle’s tourist-based economy
- South Florida prepares for arrival of oil slick
- Scientists: Oil slick almost certain to ride current to Palm Beach within weeks
- Two UF professors named to state oil spill task force
Crist undecided on calling Florida special session
Gov. Charlie Crist is disappointed Florida’s lawmakers failed to pass anti-corruption measures, which were among his top priorities, but said Monday that he hasn’t yet decided whether to call them into special session on that and possibly other issues.
Crist moving campaign headquarters to Tampa Bay area
In moves further declaring his independence from the Republican Party and establishment politics, Gov. Charlie Crist will move his Senate campaign headquarters from Tallahassee to St. Petersburg and change his voter registration from Republican to no-party.
Florida Legislature 2010: What is worth signing, worth vetoing
Gov. Crist’s pen can right some of the Legislature’s wrongs.
Editorial: Florida Public Service Commission Attacked: Paybacks Against Principles
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.
Florida pledges to seek funds for high-speed rail
Federal lawmakers praised Florida’s high-speed rail plans and state transportation officials announced plans to seek money for Orlando-Miami line.
Feds make it easier to buy Florida condos
Moves by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ease lending restrictions in the Sunshine State are giving those who want to own and occupy condos an opportunity to buy tens of thousands of units previously off-limits to nearly everyone except cash-rich investors.
U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite’s handoff of her seat to sheriff irks many
She’s the four-term Brooksville Republican incumbent who, dogged by health problems, decided not to run for re-election. He’s the Hernando County lawman she handpicked to gun for the seat.
Bank of Florida in critical state
All three of Bank of Florida Corp.’s subsidiary banks were critically short on capital at the end of the first quarter as regulators threatened to seize the banks if they can’t raise money.
Auto Body Workers, Insurers Bump Heads Over Aftermarket Car Parts
Repairing crashed cars with generic bumpers could be dangerous for drivers because the bumpers are made cheaply, which could cause air bags to fail, according to groups of auto-body workers in Connecticut, New York, California and nationally.
Republicans Question Adequacy Of State Guaranty Funds
U.S. Senate Republicans believe that failure to increase federal oversight of large insurance companies is a major deficiency of financial services reform legislation, questioning whether state guaranty funds are adequate enough to deal with large insurance failures.
New Orleans Reaches $23.6M Insurance Settlement in Katrina Damages
The New Orleans City Attorney’s Office has settled a long-time dispute between the City of New Orleans and Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Company regarding outstanding insurance claims for property damages as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
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