Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 11, 2016

March 11 is not only the final day of the 2016 Legislative Session, but it’s also the last day to apply for state Insurance Commissioner. As of Friday morning, 47 people had applied for the position, but none were “marquee” names. For instance, former state Rep. Tom Grady previously told FloridaPolitics.com he wasn’t interested in the job. […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-01-08-at-6.01.40-PM-1024x1024.png

Former state Rep. Tom Grady on Monday said although he thinks being Florida Insurance Commissioner would be “an interesting job,” he doesn’t have any plans to try for the position. “I haven’t applied. I don’t expect to apply,” he told FloridaPolitics.com. “It was flattering to hear my name batted about as a leading contender.” Gov. Rick Scott […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-02-15-at-3.10.33-PM-1024x1024.png

Only two of the 25 applicants aiming to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty answered “yes” to the state’s two pre-screening qualifying questions as of Monday. Kirk Schmidt, of Jefferson City, Missouri, is president and CFO of an insurance company after having been chief financial examiner for the Missouri Department of Insurance, he said in his […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet Thursday began moving on replacing two high-profile state positions by agreeing on salary ranges and interview dates. Marshall Stranburg, executive director of the state’s Department of Revenue, and Kevin McCarty, the state’s insurance commissioner, both quit in the past two months. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 12, 2016

Outgoing Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty may have just turned in his resignation, but Gov. Rick Scott already is leaning toward his replacement: Tom Grady, former interim president of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Sources inside the Governor’s Office told FloridaPolitics.com that Grady, a friend of Scott’s and a fellow resident of Naples, is at the top […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 7, 2016

Outgoing Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty “is vying to become the next head” of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, according to a Wednesday news report. SNL Financial, relying on unidentified sources, reported on its website that McCarty “spent recent weeks discussing his potential candidacy with several other insurance commissioners … and is now confident that he has […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-2.58.20-PM-1024x1024.png

Gov. Rick Scott got a belated Christmas gift on Tuesday with the not-entirely-unexpected resignation of Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. Scott’s communication director Jackie Schutz confirmed McCarty’s leaving, saying, “We appreciate his service to the state and we wish him the best of luck in his next endeavor.” It’s not clear where McCarty is going next; […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

Embattled Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty won the “Insurance Man of the Year” award from the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies, his office announced Monday. The award was presented Friday at the association’s annual holiday event. As commissioner, McCarty runs Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. McCarty was chosen “in recognition of his many years of service and contributions to […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2015

This past Friday, St. Petersburg City Council convened for nearly three hours in an attempt to set up regulations to create a legal framework that would require Uber and Lyft to comply with ordinances regarding taxi cabs and limousines. It was the first time that local government had devoted a session to an issue that […]

Guest AuthorAugust 4, 2014

01-FPL-DeSoto-Next-Generation-Clean-Solar-Energy-Center-high-res-1-1024x1024.jpg

The state is not doing its job to protect consumers from health insurance rate hikes. After passing up billions of dollars from the federal government for the state to expand Medicaid, Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature callously enacted a new law that, in essence, prevents the state’s insurance commissioner from regulating health insurance […]

Tag: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Sine die and deadline to apply for Insurance Commissioner job both Friday

Tom Grady says he won’t apply for Insurance Commissioner

Only 2 applicants clear Insurance Commissioner pre-screening

Governor, Cabinet move forward on high-profile hires

Report: Governor’s Office eyeing Bill Hager, Tom Grady for insurance commissioner

Report: Kevin McCarty in the running for NAIC top post

Kevin McCarty quits as state’s insurance commissioner

Kevin McCarty named “Insurance Man of the Year”

Matt Gaetz files legislation addressing Uber, Lyft

Bill Nelson: Florida GOP to blame for health insurance rate hikes