Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto has drawn a GOP challenge in her re-election bid, as political novice Michael Dreikorn filed to run in Senate District 30. The two Republicans faced off in last month’s GOP primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, who resigned from
The Florida House handed the $77.1 billion budget to Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday, but most bills that passed the Legislature still have not yet reached his desk. cott has 15 calendar days to act. His staff has been studying the budget line-by-line as the re-election-minded governor must decide whether to
What if employers started giving workers a chunk of cash to buy health insurance on their own instead of offering them a chance to buy into the company plan? Are workers ready to manage their own health insurance like they do their 401(k)? The idea that employers might decide to
Northwest Florida residents with flood-damaged homes and property can get insurance assistance through the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236). “The days and weeks following a devastating storm are a stressful time for anyone, but our dedicated team of insurance professionals are ready to help
Hurricane Ivan was a waterfront flooding event. Tuesday’s rain event hit areas farther inland for the most part. Because it hit many people who are not in high-risk flood zones, many didn’t have flood insurance and may be disappointed to learn their home insurance policy doesn’t cover rising water. “I’ve
Insurers in Florida could not use credit information to deny a claim or cancel a policy under a bill now headed to the desk of Florida Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida House voted unanimously for a bill that would also create a “homeowner claims bill of rights” that requires insurers
JACKSONVILLE — A man shouted “Let’s get to work!” as Gov. Rick Scott stepped up to a microphone at a car dealership on Monday, and the governor quickly reminded him that things have changed since 2010. “Now we’re going to do ‘Let’s keep working.’ Let’s practice,” Scott said as he lead the
TALLAHASSEE — What started as a plan to shield three disputed HCA trauma centers — including Blake Medical Center in Bradenton — from legal action, and later added limits on sky-high trauma access fees, collapsed entirely late Friday as legislators failed to pass any trauma measure. One of the most high profile
Gentlemen, start your engines. Gov. Rick Scott is taking a celebratory victory lap around Florida this week, taking credit for a $25 cut in auto tag fees that legislators approved and he signed into law, all the while hammering the record of Charlie Crist, his likely Democratic rival. On Monday,
Some people wanted the big bill of the 2014 legislative session to be Medicaid expansion, accepting federal funds to cover the low-income uninsured. Indeed, interfaith groups were still running phone banks and staging demonstrations up to Friday, the last day of the session. But it was clear even before the 2014 Florida Legislature opened