Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineSeptember 15, 2017

You probably don’t have to worry about your insurance company’s ability to pay claims arising from Hurricane Irma. Do worry about a shortage of adjusters to help them calculate your losses. That could inflate the cost of managing claims. Fred Karlinsky, co-chairman of the insurance regulatory and transactions practice at Greenberg Traurig, said Florida insurers […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 15, 2017

With all of the damage done by Hurricane Irma, the Board of Governors of Citizens Property Insurance is too busy to meet in person. Instead the nine-member board will conduct a conference call on September 27 for updates on recovery efforts and to conduct necessary business. The committee meetings that had been scheduled in Maitland have […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 15, 2017

Ritch Workman is headed back to Tallahassee. The former state representative, a Melbourne Republican, was appointed Friday night by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Public Service Commission. Workman replaces Ronald Brisé, who had sought a third term on the board. Scott also re-appointed Art Graham to the commission and filled the seat left open by […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

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A South Florida senator has filed the first bill in response to the deaths of eight nursing home residents this week after Hurricane Irma knocked out their air conditioning. Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat, filed the measure (SB 284) on Friday afternoon. Among other things, it would require the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) “to determine […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

The Legislature’s chief economist has told lawmakers that next year’s relatively tiny budget surplus will be erased because of costs from Hurricane Irma. Amy Baker, director of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, presented a working version of the state’s long-range financial outlook to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday. She explained that extra costs to […]

Associated PressSeptember 15, 2017

As if loss of air conditioning and refrigeration weren’t bad enough, widespread power outages in hurricane-battered Florida are teaming with structural failures to cause another headache: sewage overflows. Local governments have submitted well over 100 “notices of pollution” to the state Department of Environmental Protection since Hurricane Irma struck, some involving multiple spills and releases […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association on Thursday called the deaths of eight South Florida nursing home residents who died after Hurricane Irma knocked out their power an “isolated incident” and “not representative of the larger long term care profession in Florida.” The association advocates for “long term care providers and the elderly they serve,” according […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2017

The group that calls itself the conservative alternative to AARP is calling on the federal government to investigate the deaths of eight South Florida nursing home residents who died after Hurricane Irma knocked out their power. Dan Weber, founder and CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerSeptember 14, 2017

The Florida Board of Education approved a 2018-2019 budget request Wednesday that includes a $200 per-student boost in the K-12 system, increased funding for the 28 state colleges and construction money for public schools, colleges and universities. The board met in a conference call, with Chairwoman Marva Johnson and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart saying their […]

Michael MolineSeptember 13, 2017

Some 8,000 Irma-related insurance claims have landed with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. — and counting. That was the number as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, company spokesman Michael Peltier said. Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation was tallying claims filed but had not yet posted the numbers on its website. Citizens, established by the Legislature as the […]

Influence

Fred Karlinsky predicts insurers will turn to international sources for Irma payouts

Citizens Insurance board re-works meeting schedule to focus on Irma response

Ritch Workman named to Public Service Commission

First legislation filed after nursing home deaths

State surplus money ‘gone’ because of Irma

Sewage spills add to misery in hurricane-battered Florida

Florida Health Care Association issues statement on nursing home deaths

Seniors group calls on feds to investigate nursing home deaths

More money proposed for public schools, colleges

Citizens Insurance reports 8,000 claims and rising as policyholders return home