News
Pulling property insurance out of the hole
Last year, the Florida Legislature crafted, debated and passed Senate Bill 2044 and sent it to the governor for signature. The bill was intended to strengthen the insurance market, attract more competition and reduce rampant fraud.
Insurer Report Card Rule Slated for Financial Services Commission
Proposed administrative rules proving a grading system for an insurer report card are scheduled to be presented to the Financial Services Commission for adoption on August 26, 2010. The Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate published the rules last year and held workshops and hearings to gather input from interested parties. Several insurer groups raised …
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Insurance rate veto makes matters worse
It is troubling to read how Floridians are having to choose between paying higher insurance premiums or moving out of Florida (“Homeowners hit with higher insurance premiums,” July 9). But, as Florida carries the most hurricane risk of all other states combined, insurance here will never be cheap.
Governor Crist Calls for Special Session
On Thursday, July 8, Governor Charlie Crist called for a special session to consider adding a constitutional amendment on the November ballot banning offshore drilling in Florida waters. The session would run from July 20 to July 23. “I feel a compelling duty to protect Florida,” Crist said in his press conference from Tallahassee. It …
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'People's' governor hurts flock with property insurance veto
By JEFFREY GRADY Special To The Tampa Tribune Published: June 20, 2010 By vetoing Senate Bill 2044, Gov. Charlie Crist not only secured his place as one of the least consistent politicians in Florida’s history, he established himself as one of the most selfish.
Letters: Crist was wrong to veto property insurance bill
Florida’s property insurance system continues to confront the problem of a huge and growing financial risk that all residents face from the next storm. Home, auto and business insurers understand the concerns of consumers and public policymakers about the cost of property insurance in Florida, and we want to work to develop effective, long-term solutions …
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Special session could bring veto overrides to Tallahassee
Submitted by Abel Harding on June 15, 2010 – 6:37pm Abel Harding A special session of the Florida Legislature could hand Republicans an opportunity to override some of Gov. Charlie Crist’s vetoes, State Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, said in an interview today. Among the bills likely open for discussion would be SB 2044, an …
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State still needs insurance reform
Sunday letters: Florida still needs to reform property insurance In Print: Sunday, June 13, 2010 ——————————————————————————– Earlier this month, Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed Senate Bill 2044, delivering a crushing blow to the state’s ability to effectively manage the financial impact of future catastrophic storms. SB 2044 sought to reform Florida’s insurance marketplace, and in particular, …
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EDITORIAL: Vetoing reality
June 08, 2010 08:01:00 AM Gov. Charlie Crist thinks Florida’s property insurance market is doing just swell as is. And why wouldn’t he? He helped make it what it is today, so it’s in his interest to promote that fiction. The reality, though, should make everyone less sanguine. Crist last week vetoed yet another insurance …
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Governor vetoes property bill; signs commericial deregulation bill
The Governor vetoed SB 2044, the big property bill, Tuesday night. In his veto message he expressed concern about the change in how mitigation credits and debits would be implemented and the expansion of the expedited rate filing process. The veto does mean that the prohibition against use and file expires on December 31, 2010. This bill …
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Crist vetoes insurance bill; Atwater blasts governor saying he "mischaracterized" bill
TALLAHASSEE — Deepening an already substantial rift between himself and the legislature, Gov. Charlie Crist tonight vetoed a property insurance bill saying it would likely increase rates. “I am most concerned about the expansion of the current expedited rate filing procedure for property insurers that makes it easier to increase Floridians’ premiums. During these very …
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Governor Kills "Cost Drivers" Bill
Senate Bill 2044 became the primary property insurance bill during the 2010 legislative session, particularly for issues relating to residential insurance. The bill reflected input from a variety of interested parties, including the Office of Insurance Regulation, the insurance industry, the trial bar, and public adjusters. Although a number of parties commented after the session …
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Deadline looms for Crist to act on insurance bill as insurers claims losses despite 5 no-storm years
By Brent Kallestad The Associated Press Updated: 2:54 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010 Posted: 2:07 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010 TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s property insurance companies haven’t suffered hurricane losses for nearly five years, but many claim to be losing money even while collecting hefty premiums. It’s a complex paradigm for almost anyone to follow. “We keep going round and round and we always end …
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Consumer advocates divided on property insurance bill as it hits Crist's desk
Posted by Julie Patel on May 17, 2010 07:45 PM Consumer advocates are divided on a property insurance bill that aims to strengthen the state’s property insurance market by making it easier for insurers to raise rates and reduce certain claims costs. Gov. Charlie Crist received the bill, SB 2044, on Monday and has 15 …
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Insurance commissioner asks Crist to sign measure
By MICHAEL PELTIER The News Service of Florida Published: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 1:00 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 10:34 p.m. TALLAHASSEE – Placed in a relatively unusual position, Florida’s top insurance regulator urged his boss, a possibly reluctant governor, to sign recently enacted property insurance legislation that has the department’s …
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