Flimflam Florida. The phrase rolls so easily off the tongue. Too easily, given new national statistics that show — right down to the metro area — that Florida remains by far the fraud capital of the United States. The state should be careful, lest it becomes Florida’s involuntary brand. Fourteen of the 50 U.S. metro…
TALLAHASSEE Florida would become the 25th state to allow people to register to vote online under one of a series of voting proposals awaiting consideration by the Legislature. It’s an idea Democrats have pushed for years without success. Now Republicans are also supporting it — but only after the 2016 presidential election. Twenty states now…
TALLAHASSEE — Some state lawmakers are doing what they can to help Uber, with bills filed in both chambers for the smartphone app-based car service. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, this year filed a bill setting statewide standards on insurance coverage and background checks. That would clear the way for Uber, and…
A new Google product, Google Compare, will be changing the way consumers purchase insurance in California. The comparison shopping site (think Kayak for car insurance) allows customers to input their zip code and other details and provides them with insurance rates for multiple insurers who are participating in the program. Consumers can then take the…
Standard homeowners policies generally cover a wide range of potential disasters, from tornadoes and windstorms, to fire and lightning strikes, to winter storm damage caused by weight of ice and snow. Most homeowners policies cover all the disasters listed below. Some policies provide coverage only for the first 10 listed. It is important to check…
What Is Covered by a Basic Auto Insurance Policy? Your auto policy may include six coverages. Each coverage is priced separately. 1. Bodily Injury Liability This coverage applies to injuries that you, the designated driver or policyholder, cause to someone else. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone…
A standard homeowners insurance policy includes four essential types of coverage. They include: Coverage for the structure of your home. Coverage for your personal belongings. Liability protection. Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster. 1. The structure of your…
Fewer storms in 2014 allowed insurers to apply the lessons learned in previous major catastrophes to their non-catastrophe claims, and the results are paying off, according to the J.D. Power 2015 Property Claims Satisfaction Study. The increased focus allowed insurers to raise property claims satisfaction by 11 points (on a 1,000-point scale) from 840…
by Steve Bousquet TALLAHASSEE — The 2015 session of the Florida Legislature begins Tuesday here with new leaders facing fresh challenges and competing demands for a projected $1 billion budget surplus. Gov. Rick Scott ceremonially starts the session Tuesday when he delivers the annual State of the State speech to lawmakers. The 60-day session is scheduled…
Does a candidate having “party backing” actually have financial and political support from their party? No, not exactly. The political parties may seem like monolithic blocks on paper, but in practice they are not. Each party has a division which is run by legislative leaders. Their task is to help members of their party win…