Florida Gov. Crist Backs Insurance Commissioner McCarty Over Critic

Gov. Charlie Crist has rejected a state senator’s demand to fire Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty if he refuses to resign.

Crist said that McCarty has done a good job and should stay on.

McCarty is jointly appointed by the governor and Florida’s three Cabinet members, but Crist’s vote is required to hire or fire him.

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has complained that McCarty broke a promise to not recommend that Crist veto Bennett’s bill deregulating rates for consumers willing to pay more to highly capitalized insurers for property coverage.

McCarty criticized the bill (HB 1171) in a letter to Crist. The governor said he hasn’t yet made a decision but respects McCarty’s opinion.

Latest Comments

• May 28, 2009 at 2:43 am

  Fred says:

  We (not I) elected him because he was the best that would step up. Kind of a shame when you think about it. What do you expect from a state that can even vote right half of th... read more
• May 28, 2009 at 2:24 am

  bob says:

  as a reader from far away who has watched the Florida insurance market closely the last few years, I can agree with most of the comments: Crist looks like a real looser, and i... read more
• May 28, 2009 at 1:53 am

  Just Dumb Old Me says:

  The only thing I can come up with that he has done to improve the insurance industry is go home each day and leave us alone for a few hours.