Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 10, 2016

Florida’s new insurance commissioner has a rare, meaningful and high-stakes opportunity to earn his chops and establish his credibility for years to come. He can demonstrate he has the mettle to stand up to the insurance industry to the benefit of both consumers and the business community. How often does that happen? Just three months […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2016

The state’s business lobbying groups called for legislative action Thursday after a Florida Supreme Court decision earlier that day on the worker’s compensation law. The court’s 5-2 ruling for injured St. Petersburg firefighter Bradley Westphal strikes down a provision in the law limiting the time that injured workers can get temporary disability benefits. (Story here.) Three justices, […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2016

The state’s Supreme Court on Thursday delivered another blow to Florida’s workers’ compensation law. In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled unconstitutional part of the law that “cuts off disability benefits … to a worker who is totally disabled and incapable of working but who has not yet reached maximum medical improvement,” or in other words, the person cannot heal any further. That cutoff […]

Jim RosicaMay 31, 2016

The National Federation of Independent Business/Florida is adding its voice to the business groups decrying a proposed 17 percent hike in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance to employers. The rate increase “is a $623 million tax on workers in Florida that will go primarily to workers’ compensation attorneys,” NFIB/Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle said in […]

Jim RosicaMay 27, 2016

The state’s business groups are saying “we told you so” over the cost of workers’ compensation insurance. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has asked the state to consider a 17 percent rate hike in the cost of workers’ comp to employers. Workers’ comp is mandated by states to pay workers who get hurt on the job. The council submitted its filing to […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday decided not to consider a case that challenged the constitutionality of the state’s workers’ compensation system. The move leaves a contentious 2003 overhaul untouched – for now. After hearing arguments in Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital earlier this month, all seven justices agreed to “exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction,” the court’s one […]

Staff ReportsAugust 18, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) will announced today its engagement of the law firm of McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope, Weaver, Stern, and Thomas, P.A. to enhance the workers’ compensation legal and industry expertise available to its members. AIF has long been Florida’s leading voice of the business community on workers’ compensation in the halls of the […]

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 13, 2015

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday issued a seven-step plan that it says would provide coverage to the uninsured as well as eliminate a billion-dollar-plus burden on Floridians. Dubbed Smarter Health Care Coverage in Florida, the Chamber’s plan calls for using federal dollars available under the Affordable Care Act so long as the impact on […]

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 13, 2015

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday issued a seven-step plan that it says would provide coverage to the uninsured as well as eliminate a billion-dollar-plus burden on Floridians. Dubbed Smarter Health Care Coverage in Florida, the Chamber’s plan calls for using federal dollars available under the Affordable Care Act so long as the impact on […]

Christine Jordan SextonNovember 5, 2014

The Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case today that asks the justices to decide whether the fee caps in the state’s workers compensation laws are legal. The high-profile case is Castellanos v. Next Door Company and it is slated to be heard at 9 a.m. in the Supreme Court building in […]

Tag: workers compensation
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has rare chance to bust Florida workers’ comp cartel

Business lobby upset over worker’s comp decision

Florida Supreme Court strikes down another part of worker’s comp law

NFIB/Florida joins groups opposed to workers’ comp hike

Business lobby blasts workers’ comp rate hike

Fla. Supreme Court punts on workers’ comp case

Associated Industries strategically aligns with one of state’s leading Workers Comp legal teams

Docs, hospitals, trial attorneys targeted in Florida Chamber’s seven step health plan

Docs, hospitals, trial attorneys targeted in Florida Chamber's seven step health plan

Are fee caps legal? Supreme Court hears workers comp case today