Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, November 16
Nov 16, 2010
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North Carolina Escapes Storms; Will It Escape Florida’s Insurance Woes?
Earlier in 2010, Colorado State’s Tropical Meteorology Project forecasted eight hurricanes to emerge from 15 named tropical storms in the Atlantic basin.
National fire-fighting standard could triple Treasure Island fire insurance rates
Fire insurance rates could go up after a national agency discovered the Treasure Island Fire Department wasn’t meeting its standards.
Blue Cross, United withdraw from Cover Florida
The future of Gov. Charlie Crist’s health care experiment to provide affordable health insurance to uninsured residents is at risk after two of the largest insurance carriers announced they no longer will sell “Cover Florida” health plans.
Governor-elect Scott names economic advisers
Gov.-elect Rick Scott on Monday announced a group of ardently conservative and notably controversial economic thinkers who will advise him on his first budget proposal.
Legislature will let two Crist vetoes stand to please Scott and doctors
As Florida legislators meet today in a one-day special session to transform into law a handful of bills vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist, they have agreed to remove two controversial items as a concession to both Gov.-elect Rick Scott and a bipartisan group of doctors and legislators.
Blog: New-look Florida Legislature — Cannon blast Supremes; Haridopolos promises cuts
Christening an era of belt-tightening and perhaps more conservative governance, two Central Florida legislators formally took the reins of the Florida Legislature on Tuesday amid new Republican super-majorities delivered by voters in this month’s GOP election sweep.
Blog: Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon announces key committee chairs for the Florida House
Dean Cannon released the following memorandum announcing the chairs of the Florida House’s key committees.
Blog: Nan Rich takes over Senate Dems
Sen. Nan Rich has her work cut out for her as the Weston Democrat takes over as head of her caucus.
Despite ethics complaints, Jim Norman snares chairmanship in Florida Senate
Senators from Tampa Bay were among the winners and losers Monday as the new Senate president completed his leadership team and found room for freshman Sen. Jim Norman of Tampa, a target of ethics complaints and an FBI probe over his financial dealings.
Blog: Florida House dismisses challenge to State Representative Bernard’s residency
On an overwhelming voice vote, the Florida House just dismissed a challenge to state Rep. Mack Bernard’s residency and allowed him to be seated. Bernard, a Democrat, is a former Delray Beach city commissioner who is registered to vote in West Palm Beach. Bernard, who won a special election in 2009, was reelected this month with 78 percent this month over Republican Albert Key.
State Representative Snyder’s Arizona-style immigration bill progresses despite backlash
Some of the things people are writing about state Rep. William Snyder on blogs and in e-mails to his office are so bad staff members can’t tell him word for word what he is being called.
Historic deal made between Immokalee Workers, Florida Tomato Growers
Growers of the bulk of all U.S. winter tomatoes struck a major deal Tuesday with a Florida farmworkers’ group to boost their wages and working conditions, clearing the way for food giants such as McDonald’s, Burger King and upscale grocer Whole Foods to pass along more money to poor field pickers for their harvests.
Governor Charlie Crist will pursue pardon of Jim Morrison
Gov. Charlie Crist said he has made up his mind and will pursue a posthumous pardon of rock icon Jim Morrison of the Doors, who was convicted of exposing himself during a Miami concert in 1969.
Florida Redistricting Post Carries Dual Goals
Other than passing the annual state budget, lawmakers have only one other constitutional mandate: They must redraw congressional and legislative district lines every 10 years, based on a new federal census.
U.S. Attorney O’Neill: Fraud is ‘epidemic’ in Florida
Florida’s transient population and large numbers of elderly people add up to an atmosphere ripe for fraud in the view of Robert O’Neill, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
IRS demands records of Miccosukee tribe members’ finances
Dramatically expanding its tax investigation into the Miccosukees’ distribution of millions of dollars in yearly gambling profits to members, the Internal Revenue Service is issuing summonses for all financial documents pertaining to the West Miami-Dade tribe.
Jacksonville’s foreclosure court moving to public courtroom
Saying he was “deeply concerned” about restricted access to foreclosure courts, the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court directed the state courts administrator to recommend “corrective actions” after a coalition of media and First Amendment groups called upon state judges to open the courts in letters delivered Monday.
Florida Board of Governors awards University of Florida grants worth $2.45M
The goal is to use state universities to diversify Florida’s economy
The University of Florida is getting $2.45 million in grants aimed at using universities to diversify the state’s economy.
Campaign by U.S. Chamber to target federal regulations
After spending a record amount this election season to change the balance of power in Washington, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week plans to announce a pro-business agenda that will include attacking federal regulations in four areas: labor, energy, health care and financial services.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services delays mandatory liability claims reporting
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced it will delay by one year the mandatory reporting of certain liability claims data.
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