Lawmakers score low on insurance issues

Jan 14, 2013

The following article was published in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune on January 14, 2013:

Lawmakers score low in on insurance issues

By Lloyd Dunkelberger

www.heraldtribune.com

The Policyholders of Florida, an advocacy group founded by former Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Sean Shaw, released its annual report card today, assessing the votes of state lawmakers on insurance issues in the 2012 session.

Many lawmakers received low marks in the survey.

“Consumers don’t find out who their friends are during campaigns, they find out during legislative session,” Shaw said in a statement. “We track important insurance votes throughout the year so Floridians can see whether or not their lawmakers went to Tallahassee to fight for them or not _ clearly many lawmakers are failing.

“We need lawmakers to focus on stabilizing the market for consumers and encouraging a responsible expansion of the private market in Florida.”

Among local lawmakers, the group gave state Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, a “B,” while former state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, received an “F.” Among House members, Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, received a “D,” while Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, and former Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, received “F’s.”

The full report card can be found here.

View the original article here:  http://politics.heraldtribune.com/2013/01/14/insurance-advocacy-group-doles-out-the-fs-for-florida-lawmakers/