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Florida Supreme Court keeps three amendments from ballot

Pam Keillor — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:39:36 +0000

TALLAHASSEE — The November ballot just got less crowded.

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed lower court rulings to strike three ballot amendments proposed by the Legislature concerning redistricting, the new federal health care law and property taxes.

Oil spill special session not likely

Pam Keillor — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:35:08 +0000

As a House panel wrapped up its work on Monday, chances for a September oil spill special session appeared to be slim and none.

“I’m not advocating, from my perspective, that a special session is necessary,” said Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, the leader of one of the half dozen working groups set up by the House after a failed July special session called by Gov. Charlie Crist.

Florida’s massive reinsurance fund is much smaller this storm season

Pam Keillor — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:42:31 +0000

The size of Florida’s state-created reinsurance fund has dramatically reduced in size this storm season.

A combination of market forces, as well as a higher cost now attached to certain types of coverage, has resulted in a much smaller Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

The Cat Fund as it is known had up to $8 billion worth of coverage available for sale in its top optional layer of coverage. But insurers this year only bought $1.3 billion.

Overextension worries Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance

Pam Keillor — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:11:20 +0000

The number of Florida homes and
businesses insured by Citizens Property Insurance
Corp. is growing faster than expected, exposing
taxpayers to greater risk.

Citizens – the state-backed insurer – held policies
on 1,151,319 properties at the end of June.

That’s about 110,000 more policies than the insurer
budgeted for, chief executive Scott Wallace told the
company’s board of governors Thursday in
Orlando.

Florida regulators investigate rash of sinkhole claims

Pam Keillor — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:34:11 +0000

State insurance regulators are investigating what they see as a surge in sinkhole claims outside the traditional “sinkhole alley” in Hernando and Pasco counties.

Sink wins gubernatorial nod, McCollum concedes to Scott

Pam Keillor — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:02:51 +0000

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS –

Alex Sink has won the Florida Democratic primary for governor.

The state chief financial officer’s only opposition in Tuesday’s primary was from health care executive Brian Moore, who received 23 percent of the Democratic vote to Sink’s nearly 77 percent.

Sink will meet Republican Rick Scott in November’s general election.

Election Day arrives: Floridians choosing candidates for governor, attorney general

Pam Keillor — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:05:43 +0000

Floridians go to the polls Tuesday to elect candidates for several statewide offices, as well as numerous local races.

As sinkhole claims rise, credibility in question

Pam Keillor — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:31:59 +0000

April Stiller saw the cracks along the walls and floor tile in her ’70s-era house in Martin County and assumed it was normal wear and tear.

State Supreme Court hears arguments for putting discarded amendments back on ballot

Pam Keillor — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:52:56 +0000

TALLAHASSEE — Lawyers squared off Wednesday before the Florida Supreme Court on challenges to three proposed constitutional amendments that have been kicked off the November ballot.

Muscle Against Insurance: Florida gets grant to fight premium hikes

Kendria Ellis — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:06:05 +0000

Florida will get $1 million to fight unreasonable hikes in insurance premiums, announced federal officials today.