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

Michael MolineJanuary 12, 2017

State regulators and an organization that proposes workers’ compensation coverage rates in Florida defended themselves in pleadings to a state appeals court this week, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that they had violated open-government laws. Attorneys for the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, submitted their arguments in a brief filed Wednesday with […]

Michael MolineJanuary 12, 2017

A House panel began talking Thursday about imposing term limits on judges — and also reviewed how quickly the courts are clearing their caseloads. Judicial term limits failed in the Legislature last year, but House Speaker Richard Corcoran has declared the issue an important priority. Heather Fitzenhagen, chairwoman of the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee, said […]

Michael MolineJanuary 11, 2017

The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee held a calm, measured, largely drama-free discussion of assignment of benefits reform Wednesday. Nothing was resolved, but the panel appeared to inch toward a compromise. It may include extending regulation to the home repair contractors but perhaps not changing Florida’s attorney fee statute to discourage abusive lawsuits against insurers. […]

Michael MolineJanuary 11, 2017

The chairwoman of the House Energy & Utilities subcommittee might need to invest in a hard hat. Her members might want to do that, too. During the panel’s first meeting Wednesday, Kathleen Peters said she planned to conduct as many visits as possible to facilities operated by the utilities regulated by the Florida Public Service […]

Michael MolineJanuary 10, 2017

A House committee considering the future of Florida’s death penalty statute heard Tuesday from a man once sentenced to Death Row. Henry Brown, who described himself as a capital mitigation consultant in Tallahassee, said he was sentenced to death in 1973 but released after he pleaded to second-degree murder in 1993, although he denied killing […]

Michael MolineJanuary 10, 2017

House Appropriations Committee Chair Carlos Trujillo promised Tuesday to get to work this year on attacking budget deficits that loom during the next two years. Trujillo directed committee members to begin scrutinizing state spending and looking for programs to trim or cut. At the same time, he reiterated the House leadership’s determination to look for tax cuts, […]

Michael MolineJanuary 10, 2017

Home repair contractors lashed out against calls for a crackdown on assignment of benefits agreements during testimony before a key Senate committee Tuesday, insisting such contracts protect homeowners and reputable remediation businesses. They argued instead for increased regulation of their industry, to put fly-by-night contractors out of business. “Would you please regulate us?” said Dave […]

Michael MolineJanuary 5, 2017

How confident are stakeholders that Florida’s workers’ compensation system strikes the right balance between protecting injured workers while keeping costs under control? Not very, according to a survey released this week by the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Nearly 66 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed that the system strikes the right balance. At nearly 40 percent, […]

Michael MolineJanuary 5, 2017

The Florida Legislature could consider legislation that would make it more expensive for tobacco companies to appeal verdicts in liability cases filed by smokers made sick or injured by their products. SB 100, filed by Sen. Greg Steube, contains just two lines: “Section 569.23, Florida Statutes, is repealed.” And “This act shall take effect July 1, […]

Michael MolineJanuary 5, 2017

Donald Polmann attended his first meeting as a member of the Public Service Commission Thursday, promising to seek a balance between sustaining Florida’s public utilities and the needs of their customers. “I am truly grateful for the warm welcome that I’ve received from everyone here at the Public Service Commission,” Polmann said. “I know that […]

Michael Moline
Donald Trump. Image via AP.

Ratings agency warns in brief against ‘dramatic expansion’ of Sunshine Law

House civil justice subcommittee takes up judicial term limits

House panel stages civilized discussion of assignment of benefits reform

House Energy & Utilities chairwoman plans field trips this session

Former death row prisoner appears before House panel

House budget chairman starts looking for programs to cut

Contractors mount defense of assignment of benefits agreements

Survey finds dissatisfaction with Florida’s workers’ compensation system

Bills would eliminate tobacco companies’ discounted appeals

Donald Polmann makes his debut at Public Service Commission