Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2017

When you try to manage a multi-billion-dollar state budget with three-decade-old software, problems are bound to happen. An audit has found security flaws in the Department of Financial Services‘ antiquated FLAIR accounting system, according to a report released Friday. (FLAIR stands for “Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem.”) The department is run by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. […]

Jim RosicaNovember 14, 2016

Jeff Atwater wants the federal government to show him the money: More than $1 billion worth. Florida’s chief financial officer now is suing the feds for that amount, saying it has refused to make good on matured U.S. savings bonds he holds as unclaimed property. The suit was filed last week in the U.S. Court of Federal […]

Jim RosicaOctober 31, 2016

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater says he’ll hand-deliver a check worth more than $1 million in unclaimed insurance benefits to Fort Lauderdale’s Holy Cross Hospital this week. The media event is yet another victory lap for the CFO, who championed a measure that became law this year, requiring insurance companies to track down beneficiaries. It was later […]

Phil AmmannMay 18, 2016

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Florida officials are calling for a $125,000 study to consider dropping state’s system of no-fault Personal Injury Protection auto insurance. The Department of Financial Services is looking for a vendor to produce the report by June, LobbyTools reports. A draft report would be due Aug. 26, with a final report by Sept. 2. In March […]

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2016

Life insurers are now suing over a new law requiring them to track down insurance beneficiaries. Four companies filed in Leon County Circuit Civil court earlier this month. The measure (SB 966) was a priority of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and was featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes.” His spokeswoman responded to the suit Tuesday, calling it […]

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2016

Broward County’s clerk of court is suing the state over the way it funds Florida’s clerks. Howard Forman is asking a Leon County circuit judge to declare “funding of the offices of the clerks of the circuit and county courts performing court-related functions” as unconstitutional, says his lawsuit filed this month. His complaint is against the state’s Department of Revenue, the […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

A top plaintiffs’ insurance lawyer is lauding Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty‘s offer to extend his departure, which was originally set for May 2. McCarty “staying on until a replacement is named is a massive blessing,” said Chip Merlin of the Merlin Law Group in Tampa. Merlin has built a business out of suing insurance companies that “deny, delay or underpay property […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

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Kevin McCarty is telling his bosses: You need more time? You got it. The state’s outgoing Insurance Commissioner on Wednesday wrote separate but identical letters to Gov. Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. He said he would delay his departure to “45 days after my successor […]

Drew WilsonMarch 30, 2016

Two Orlando residents accused of siphoning thousands in food stamp benefits from the government were arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, Florida chief financial officer Jeff Atwater announced. “Today, two criminals found themselves exactly where they belong, and that’s behind bars,” Atwater said. “By stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in public assistance […]

Guest AuthorMarch 8, 2016

Each Legislative Session brings a cadre of bills, usually touted as consumer-friendly measures, that on the surface sound like good-government laws. In reality, such bills often have unintended consequences that should be exposed for consumer protection reasons. Companions House Bill 1041 and Senate Bill 966, related to unclaimed property, form one such example of state […]

Tag: Department of Financial Services

Audit uncovers flaws in state’s accounting system

Jeff Atwater files blockbuster billion-dollar lawsuit against feds

Jeff Atwater to deliver unclaimed money to South Florida hospital

Florida to study the possibility of cutting Personal Injury Protection auto insurance requirement

Insurers sue Jeff Atwater over death-benefits bill

Broward court clerk suing state over funding

Chip Merlin calls Kevin McCarty’s departure delay a ‘massive blessing’

In letter, Kevin McCarty says he’s willing to extend departure date

Jeff Atwater announces “Cash for Cards” food stamp fraud operation

Paul Sanford: Governor should veto state money-grab legislation