Typical spineless politician pandering for votes. The only reason to veto was so his opponent in the Senate race could not run an ad saying he supported rate increases for homeowners. A true leader would explain why this bill would be good for consumers (increasing capacity, reducing tax payer risk, promoting competitive market). Many voters are starting to get that now in Florida . . . hopefully enough to send this knucklehead to the political graveyard once and for all.
Please don’t loose sight that “Senator Jeff” is running for CFO. He’s another career politician that needs to go find a real job – in the real world. Being a former VP of Business Development for a recently failed bank doesn’t qualify someone to even think they are capable of being Cheif Financial Officer of this state.
Pat, all great & valid points but I’m afraid the voting public is just not that sophisticated. I can see the ads now (and obviously he could as well): “Crist just raised your homeowner rates after a few years without storms”. We all know the problem facing us is very complex. And probably too complex to convey to the voting public. I am trying to stay positive but I am losing faith that anyone with any real decison making power can/will approach our problems with any real discipline.
The marketplace must be allowed to sift through the damage that the political forces have caused in the name of “knowing better” and getting re-elected. It will mean some short-term pain for consumers (who always lose when the government gets involved), but when left alone, the market always works best.
With any luck, the public will not support those who favor further statism and who therefore cause problems of this kind.
I think Alex Sink has the financial mind to approach the property insurance mess and let the free market take over. At the same time, her liberal politics could put a cloud over that sound business judgment she has.
I think what we should do as agents is take out huge advertising campaigns like the public adjusters, and -1-800-411 and 1-866 people and REALLY educate the consumers and explain to them how the system works and give them some understanding on how fraud and everything else effects them and the premiums we are paying. Then we might have a better voting public !
I call Arlene Spector to see what he thought I should do, and he told me to take a poll. I just decided to call all insurance companies bad and tell everyone I am for Old people, Dogs, and children. I am against Crime and drugs.
There that should do it, That should get me elected again!
I agree Mr. Solvent. I was reading the blogs online about Charlie vetoing and its apparent that most of the public does not understand how insurance works. I have customers being nonrenewed from excellent companies and having to pay the next one 2 or 3 times more. I myself am being let go and am in the same boat. The only difference is that I understand I’m being shafted by Charlie.
I don’t hear any of you agents complaining about the management companies that the insurance companies hire (and own) that siphon off millions to make it appear that they’re losing $$$ so they can get increases in premiums.
Poor insurance companies, how can they not be making $$$ when they charge 5-10 times what the rest of the country is paying and we haven’t had a major loss in this state for almost 5 years?
No, Charlie isn’t an idiot – far from it, he’s a shrewd, calculating populist politician who panders to the lowest common denominator – Joe Sixpack, trial lawyers and public adjusters.
Given Charlie’s performance while in office, he should fit in quite nicely in Congress – regardless of his party affiliation or lack there of.
Maybe just maybe, we’ll have a storm that will expose the short term thinking (read: pandering & preserving one’s political career) that Charlie and his toadie, Senator Jeff Atwater,have championed. “Senator Jeff”, who up until this morning supported Charlie’s populist agenda, having introduced several legislative moritoriums on rate increases for the FWUA, and Citizens over the past ten years – with the goal of running for Governor.
Idiot is a poor choice of words – clown would more appropriate for these two schmucks.
Enough is enough with the clowns knocking on doors 4 1/2 years later asking if you want a new roof. The average redneck would jump on this given the fact that we all pay for it. 5 years is way too long.
No, CM2, this is Crist’s bid at getting more votes for the Senate in Nov. The average consumer just thinks insurance companies are out to screw them and that rate increases just line the pockets of the execs. There was a lot in this bill that would help consumers. How sad we have a governor that is so ignorant.
Florida start up carriers are a ponzi. The MGA model is certainly being abused and a way to steal the money and leave the baggage for FIGA. But still this does not let Crist off the hook for being a “which way is the wind blowing” politician. Its time to fix the property market in Florida, not try to control it but let it work its way out with competition. Create an incentive for the large National carriers to start writting again and that will be the solution. How I do not know.
Hey Pete … so you think us agents aren’t complaining think again we are not happy either … but we don’t have as much free time to complain because we are too busy having to REWRITE all of our clients with other carriers ( which we have no guarantee will be here next year)- but we do the best with can to protect our clients. By the way the bill that Charlie vetoed was going to address that issue directly and give the state more oversight on these MGAs and the fees paid. Too bad Charlie didn’t see the importance of that the way you do ! Oh and did you know that the entire country currently has no Flood program right now .
I agree the public does not understand insurance. I struggle too. We are fee-simple townhouse owners in HOA (4 units per building, concrete, fire resistant, 2 story). Since 2004, our agent insured the buildings incorrectly for Flood and now wants to rewrite the policies under each individual owner’s name (with the Association as a Trustee, i.e. ATIMA). Our buildings are not even in the high-risk-flood zone. We have a surplus-line-insurer for Fire as condominium apartments, which — of course — we are not. Wind with Citizens evidently includes interior (except appliances not built in). The RC appraisal value includes excavation costs but the policies exclude them. (Not sure, if that make any difference.) The unit owners in our HOA are not required to buy any insurance but are required to pay an equal share for any unit damaged or destroyed after casualty (if insurance is proceeds are insufficient) even though we do not have any financial interest in any other units.
The Florida Chapter 720 does not define’ insurable-interest’ in fee-simple buildings for HOAs; One can assume we are governed by our Covenants -written in 1983- which require the Assn to carry a policy (ies) on buildings and common areas — what ever that may be. In this scenario, what type of insurance I should buy?
Just keep growing that bastion of centralized, socialized insurance-Citizens.
And he wants power on a national scale?
Typical spineless politician pandering for votes. The only reason to veto was so his opponent in the Senate race could not run an ad saying he supported rate increases for homeowners. A true leader would explain why this bill would be good for consumers (increasing capacity, reducing tax payer risk, promoting competitive market). Many voters are starting to get that now in Florida . . . hopefully enough to send this knucklehead to the political graveyard once and for all.
Please don’t loose sight that “Senator Jeff” is running for CFO. He’s another career politician that needs to go find a real job – in the real world. Being a former VP of Business Development for a recently failed bank doesn’t qualify someone to even think they are capable of being Cheif Financial Officer of this state.
Pat, all great & valid points but I’m afraid the voting public is just not that sophisticated. I can see the ads now (and obviously he could as well): “Crist just raised your homeowner rates after a few years without storms”. We all know the problem facing us is very complex. And probably too complex to convey to the voting public. I am trying to stay positive but I am losing faith that anyone with any real decison making power can/will approach our problems with any real discipline.
Your points are well-taken as well.
The marketplace must be allowed to sift through the damage that the political forces have caused in the name of “knowing better” and getting re-elected. It will mean some short-term pain for consumers (who always lose when the government gets involved), but when left alone, the market always works best.
With any luck, the public will not support those who favor further statism and who therefore cause problems of this kind.
I think Alex Sink has the financial mind to approach the property insurance mess and let the free market take over. At the same time, her liberal politics could put a cloud over that sound business judgment she has.
I think what we should do as agents is take out huge advertising campaigns like the public adjusters, and -1-800-411 and 1-866 people and REALLY educate the consumers and explain to them how the system works and give them some understanding on how fraud and everything else effects them and the premiums we are paying. Then we might have a better voting public !
I had to veto this in order to get elected.
I call Arlene Spector to see what he thought I should do, and he told me to take a poll. I just decided to call all insurance companies bad and tell everyone I am for Old people, Dogs, and children. I am against Crime and drugs.
There that should do it, That should get me elected again!
I agree Mr. Solvent. I was reading the blogs online about Charlie vetoing and its apparent that most of the public does not understand how insurance works. I have customers being nonrenewed from excellent companies and having to pay the next one 2 or 3 times more. I myself am being let go and am in the same boat. The only difference is that I understand I’m being shafted by Charlie.
I don’t hear any of you agents complaining about the management companies that the insurance companies hire (and own) that siphon off millions to make it appear that they’re losing $$$ so they can get increases in premiums.
Poor insurance companies, how can they not be making $$$ when they charge 5-10 times what the rest of the country is paying and we haven’t had a major loss in this state for almost 5 years?
No, Charlie isn’t an idiot – far from it, he’s a shrewd, calculating populist politician who panders to the lowest common denominator – Joe Sixpack, trial lawyers and public adjusters.
Given Charlie’s performance while in office, he should fit in quite nicely in Congress – regardless of his party affiliation or lack there of.
Maybe just maybe, we’ll have a storm that will expose the short term thinking (read: pandering & preserving one’s political career) that Charlie and his toadie, Senator Jeff Atwater,have championed. “Senator Jeff”, who up until this morning supported Charlie’s populist agenda, having introduced several legislative moritoriums on rate increases for the FWUA, and Citizens over the past ten years – with the goal of running for Governor.
Idiot is a poor choice of words – clown would more appropriate for these two schmucks.
Just wait until a hurricane blows oil all over the place. Can’t wait until Charlie says the pollution exclusion doesn’t apply.
Enough is enough with the clowns knocking on doors 4 1/2 years later asking if you want a new roof. The average redneck would jump on this given the fact that we all pay for it. 5 years is way too long.
Good riddance Chuckie
Pete, if I had that much control, I would not be in insurance that is for sure.
No, CM2, this is Crist’s bid at getting more votes for the Senate in Nov. The average consumer just thinks insurance companies are out to screw them and that rate increases just line the pockets of the execs. There was a lot in this bill that would help consumers. How sad we have a governor that is so ignorant.
Florida start up carriers are a ponzi. The MGA model is certainly being abused and a way to steal the money and leave the baggage for FIGA. But still this does not let Crist off the hook for being a “which way is the wind blowing” politician. Its time to fix the property market in Florida, not try to control it but let it work its way out with competition. Create an incentive for the large National carriers to start writting again and that will be the solution. How I do not know.
That’ll keep those evil insurance companies from raising rates. Yeah…
If Marco Rubio has an ounce of sense he’ll jam this up Charlie’s backside with a red hot poker!
And if McCarty has an ounce of sense, he’ll use it to throw Charlie’s dumb butt back under the bus where it belongs.
Man I can’t wait ’til November
All of those huge bills followed up by refunds. Can’t wait!
Amen brother!
And I can’t wait to tell all of my customers that they can thank Charlie Crist for it, too!
Now if we can just get Marco Rubio to recognize the opportunity in this….
November just can’t get here fast enough!!!
Charlie is an insult to our good judgement in having elected him to governor.
He can’t take enough polls to decide how to take a position on an issue.
Please do all you can to help make sure this fool is quickly OUT of a job after the election!
Is this the end of Charlies political career?
This bill was more than rates its about bringing stability to the marketplace and not to expand Citizens larger than it is today.
Hey Pete … so you think us agents aren’t complaining think again we are not happy either … but we don’t have as much free time to complain because we are too busy having to REWRITE all of our clients with other carriers ( which we have no guarantee will be here next year)- but we do the best with can to protect our clients. By the way the bill that Charlie vetoed was going to address that issue directly and give the state more oversight on these MGAs and the fees paid. Too bad Charlie didn’t see the importance of that the way you do ! Oh and did you know that the entire country currently has no Flood program right now .
I agree the public does not understand insurance. I struggle too. We are fee-simple townhouse owners in HOA (4 units per building, concrete, fire resistant, 2 story). Since 2004, our agent insured the buildings incorrectly for Flood and now wants to rewrite the policies under each individual owner’s name (with the Association as a Trustee, i.e. ATIMA). Our buildings are not even in the high-risk-flood zone. We have a surplus-line-insurer for Fire as condominium apartments, which — of course — we are not. Wind with Citizens evidently includes interior (except appliances not built in). The RC appraisal value includes excavation costs but the policies exclude them. (Not sure, if that make any difference.) The unit owners in our HOA are not required to buy any insurance but are required to pay an equal share for any unit damaged or destroyed after casualty (if insurance is proceeds are insufficient) even though we do not have any financial interest in any other units.
The Florida Chapter 720 does not define’ insurable-interest’ in fee-simple buildings for HOAs; One can assume we are governed by our Covenants -written in 1983- which require the Assn to carry a policy (ies) on buildings and common areas — what ever that may be. In this scenario, what type of insurance I should buy?