A.G. Gancarski
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist is taking his case against the Ron DeSantis-era property insurance market on the road.
“DeSantis has been the single worst Governor on property insurance the state has ever had,” Crist said Wednesday at a Jacksonville Skyway stop near the local Citizens Insurance headquarters.
Just days after a so-far unheeded call to DeSantis to reverse cost increases for the increasingly burdened Citizens Insurance, the state insurer of last resort, the candidate brought the message to Jacksonville Tuesday.
“This is an emergency for crying out loud,” Crist said. “It’s ridiculous and just plain wrong.”
As he has elsewhere, Crist said that this year’s Special Session wasn’t enough, and rather than fixing issues in the market, it ended up being “really special for the insurance industry.”
“I called for a property insurance Special Session and we lowered rates,” Crist said. “When I was Governor, the insurance companies knew that the people were in charge. Sadly, things are truly different now.”
“DeSantis has taken millions from insurance companies, and in return he does whatever they tell them to,” DeSantis said.
Pressed on issues with insolvency among insurers, Crist said the solution was “to do what’s right.”
“Allow insurance companies to have a profit. Insurance needs to make a profit. I get that. But we can’t let them gouge our fellow citizens in the process, and double their rates in just a four-year period.”
“Insurance companies should pay what they owe to their customers,” Crist added, when asked about the issues of litigation in the market. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in court in the first place. If they would just do the right thing they wouldn’t have that problem.”
DeSantis doesn’t have “compassion” for citizens facing down the crisis, Crist said, “because he hangs out with millionaires and billionaires all day long.”
Two elected Democrats were on hand with supportive remarks.
Sen. Audrey Gibson panned the Special Session “debacle” as being “too late” after “so much time spent stripping freedoms and fighting culture wars” from the GOP-dominated Legislature.
Rep. Tracie Davis blasted a “lack of leadership” from DeSantis, driving up cost-of-living issues in insurance, food and other staples. She said Crist would “crack down on the bad actors in the industry.”
16 comments
Charlie Crist
September 7, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Vote for me. I’ll body slam DeSantis and his right wing goons into a mud pit. Save Florida from the dystopian right wing. Humanity is at stake.
Richard Bruce
September 7, 2022 at 1:10 pm
In 2009, Forbes named Charlie Crist the “Worst Governor” in America. Crist signed HB 1495 allow Citizen rates to increase 10%/yr which wiped out any decrease Crist claims he led with HB1A. Yes, he lowered rates, but he also raised rates.
Joe Corsin
September 7, 2022 at 1:21 pm
Perhaps if Florida had a state tax..then it wouldn’t be taking in $4 of federal money for every dollar contributed. Florida is a grifter state. Without the beach…it would be much worse than even Mississippi because of grifter, no nothing hogs.
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 1:34 pm
You are full of manure corsin.
Florida had brought in $4.4 trillion in 22-23, new revenue, wages and salaries. Due to new net migration. Florida is a new growth state. Cali is losing population, they have lost a Cong seat.
Florida’s GDP and wage growth outpace the nation. Florida GDP is 45%, compared to USA 43.%.
You can thank tyrannical Govs in Midwest and NE.
Florida is the economic beacon of hope as the freedom, liberty bell tolls!
Yes place your state income tax up your pie hole.
All thanks to America’s Gov. rising tide for all.
You are under surveillance corsin.
Enjoy!
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 2:22 pm
Hardly a grifter state.
$4.4 billion in new wages and salaries due to new net migration.
Florida’s GDP, number one as it outpaces USA. Florida 45% to 43% USA. Btw, $22 billion in state reserves.
Please tell Charlie to endorse your state tax.
So shut the pie hole ignant corsin.
You are under surveillance.
Joe Corsin
September 7, 2022 at 3:22 pm
All hoarded from the federal government… grifted from people from other states. Wages continue to be shit here. Greasy hogs exploit workers and Florida State government grifts the Fed.
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 3:30 pm
You are pathetic, empty troll with no brain. The modern tin man.
You moron, this is new net migration.
Florida outpaces all states. Furthermore, wages and salaries $44. Trillion. 45% GDP, USA 43%.
The $22 billion in financial reserves are from sales and tourism, not Feds!
Furthermore, don’t matter. You are a pathetic menace corsin!
You are under surveillance.
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 1:21 pm
Good job Bruce!
Facts are funny things, don’t tell drummycrats that. Classic Chameleon, he’s a pathetic prostitute. Just a joke, his nominee Matz is a enchilada.
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 1:41 pm
Florida’s new net migration has brought in $44.4 trillion in salaries, wages and economic wealth.
GDP is 45.% compared to USA at 43.%. Florida leads the nation.
Florida due to America’s Gov the economic beacon of growth, liberty and freedom!
Corsin is clueless, shove the tax up pie hole. Not happening, typical dumtard.
Joe Corsin
September 7, 2022 at 3:31 pm
44 trillion my ass. You smoking methamphetamine buddy…
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 3:38 pm
$4.5 trillion” new
Joe Corsin
September 7, 2022 at 6:11 pm
See? You full of poo poo buddy. Just rambling gibberish out of your bung hole 🍩 Don’t know what in the hell you’re talking about.
Ron Ogden
September 7, 2022 at 1:45 pm
As I have said before, the legislature addressed the property insurance issue in special session last spring and they are going to get into it again this coming spring. Charlie and his ilk are the problem: over the last decade trial lawyers have put the bulk of $15 billion in Florida property insurance payouts into their pockets. That is simple fact and common knowledge. Until Florida corrals the property liability lawyers–and that means the DEMOCRATS–the problem will not be solved. If you want a permanent solution to the property insurance problem it comes down to reforming the tort laws. Charlie and friends live off those laws and only Republicans will change them.
David Bruderly
September 7, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Republicans have had total control of Tallahassee for 24-years. Why have Republicans not solved the insurance problem?? Time for new leadership.
Tom
September 7, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Yes Ron. The Gov and legislature placed $2billion in the state insurance program in special session.
I am what I am
September 7, 2022 at 4:18 pm
People can drop dead with there flipping houses and everyone pay
Let them cover there own.
Comments are closed.