Michael Moline, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineFebruary 17, 2017

Legislation sought by regulators, insurance, and business interests to reform assignment of benefits agreements finally dropped Friday — and the first thing it would do is bar attorney fee awards to contractors who use those contracts to sue insurers. “Nothwithstanding any other law, as to suits based on claims arising under property insurance policies, attorney […]

Michael MolineFebruary 17, 2017

Gun-rights lobbyist Marion Hammer has denounced the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ “Docs v. Glocks” ruling as “activist,” and complained the court “treats gun owners as second-class citizens.” “This activist decision attempts to use the First Amendment as a sword to terrorize the Second Amendment and completely disregards the rights and the will of […]

Michael MolineFebruary 16, 2017

Who is Mary Beth Wilson? That question buzzed around the lobbying shops on or near Tallahassee’s Adams Street after a blog post by a widely respected lobbyist accused a lobbyist for Demotech Inc. of posing as that “concerned citizen” to praise the ratings agency during a conference call. The post said “most industry professionals” believe […]

Michael MolineFebruary 16, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court has taken a narrow view of the amount of evidence hospitals and other health care providers are obliged to turn over to insurance companies concerning the reasonableness of personal injury protection claims. In a unanimous ruling, the court sided with the 1st District Court of Appeal over the 4th District Court […]

Michael MolineFebruary 16, 2017

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A state appeals court has upheld a law limiting payments to chiropractors under reforms to Florida’s personal-injury protection insurance system the Legislature approved in 2012. The 3rd District Court of Appeal on Wednesday reversed a ruling by Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Michaelle Gonzalez-Paulson holding that the limits were unconstitutional. “We must presume that the Legislature conducted […]

Michael MolineFebruary 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposal to cut Medicaid reimbursement payments to profitable hospitals that stint on charity care may run into trouble in the Senate. During hearings Wednesday before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, members including Chairwoman Anitere Flores raised objections. “The governor’s office has made some assumptions, based on the fact that some […]

Michael MolineFebruary 15, 2017

State attorneys and public defenders face off in court, but they agreed on one thing during a meeting Wednesday of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice: Their staff attorneys need pay raises. Trouble is, committee chairman Aaron Bean isn’t convinced there’ll be enough money to pay for that, as much as he sympathizes. […]

Michael MolineFebruary 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget would shift nearly 77 percent of the $293.4 million earmarked for low-income housing next year to other state priorities. That works out to $224 million from state and local housing trust funds that won’t go for their intended purpose. State law reserves a portion of the take from documentary stamp […]

Michael MolineFebruary 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott may be overreaching with his plan to cut state taxes by $618.4 million, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee said Tuesday. “I would consider it a little bit ambitious, in light of our current financial situation,” chairman Jim Boyd told reporters after Scott’s aides briefed his committee. “We certainly share […]

Michael MolineFebruary 14, 2017

Associated Industries of Florida released its fix for rising workers’ compensation rates Tuesday. The lobby’s proposed legislation would make injured employees responsible for their own attorney fees. The draft bill stipulates that “a claimant is responsible for payment of her or his own attorney fees” for litigation arising from a claim. “A judge of compensation […]

Michael Moline

Legislation introduced in Senate would tighten protections against AOBs

Marion Hammer sees paths around 11th Circuit’s ‘Docs v. Glocks’ ruling

Lobbyist’s blog post gets tongues flapping among Tallahassee’s lobbyist set

Supreme Court limits information insurers may demand under PIP policies

Appeals court reverses ruling striking limits on PIP payments to chiropractors

Senate may balk at Rick Scott’s plan to hit hospitals over charity care

Lawyers for the state tell Senate committee they need pay raises, too

Rick Scott’s budget would raid affordable housing trust funds

Jim Boyd calls Rick Scott’s $618 million in tax cuts ‘a little bit ambitious’

AIF workers’ comp fix would make employees pay their own attorney fees