Gelber presses Rubio on PIP, again

House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber is busy writing letters these days. Today, he sends one to House Speaker Marco Rubio urging action on PIP.

"Although I am delighted to read that progress is being made to avoid the impending sunset of No-Fault Auto Insurance, I am concerned that all discussions seem to be taking place out of the public eye. There is no prior notice of meetings, no hearings for the public to attend, no media reporting what issues are being discussed. That is why I am renewing my suggestion that it would be best for the legislature to extend PIP for one year to give us the opportunity to properly do what we failed to do last session: complete a full and open, public examination and make a well informed determination of how to fix the deficiencies in the current PIP system."

Letter here.

Comments

[Po]

Marco: take the day off. First Charlie steals your thunder; now Gelber is hammering you.

“That is why I am renewing my suggestion that it would be best for the legislature to extend PIP for one year to give us the opportunity to properly do what we failed to do last session: complete a full and open, public examination and make a well informed determination of how to fix the deficiencies…”

You’ve got to give him credit for being honest about the results of the Legislation’s Special Session action to date.

It's all Bogdanoff's fault !

Not only PIP but the Iraq War, Global Warming, Darfur, etc.

Who is Gelber ?

If Gelber would stop writing letters long enough to notice, all the unannounced, private meetings are happening in the Governor's Office between Chris Kise and the lobbyists.

[james]

looks like a little boy looking up to his daddy

Rubio and Bogdanoff intentionally undercut any cahnce at debate on PIP in the House last session while the Seanate passed a good bill 37-0.

Why these two spent so much energy keeping PIP off the agenda is obvious to anybody who possesses a kernel of critical thought.

Now they see the walls closing in as their own party members are lining up with the Governor and the Dems to ram it down their throats.

Prepare for more "thoughtful" attempts by Marco to look like he's compromising, but this thing is gonna get done without him.

[james]

actualy ellyn could be marco's mommy

We have to keep PIP! How else are legal, taxpaying citizens going to pay for the damages that illegal immigrants cause when the crash into us while driving illegally in their illegally registered vehicle to their illegal job – right after they drop their illegal wives and kids off at Social Cervices, School, and the doctor’s office to get their FREE services paid for by we legal, taxpaying citizens.

For Heaven’s sake, are we supposed to expect the law-breaking corporations who hire the illegal immigrants as slave labor in order to avoid paying payroll taxes, a fair wage, and benefits – as well as ruining our economy and destroying and devaluing the American worker and industries… to pay for it? Hell, they need their money to buy politicians who will look the other way.

I thought Ellyn was with Pruitt.

Funny letter from Gelber considering the incoming Democrat House leader was sitting in the meeting today taking notes and keeping his mouth shut.

Trial lawyers got their butt handed to them by the Governor's office for refusing to yield on attorney cap fees.

Other than that, no progress. As much as the Governor wants a bill, these meetings aren't producing results.

PIP - RIP

I guess is you are the leader of an irrelevant, backbench minority party, the next best thing to do is write letters.

[manaboutit]

they should do something before it expires!

If, in fact, Gelber is "concerned that all discussions seem to be taking place out of the public eye. There is no prior notice of meetings, no hearings for the public to attend, no media reporting what issues are being discussed.", then he is voicing concern relating to the 'sunshine law', and should file a complaint.
I am also concerned with the sunset of 'no-fault', it IS rife with fraud. Citizens do , however, have the opportunity to retain PIP on their auto insurance.

7:40

Thats not entirely true.

You can opt to pay for Medpay at a higher rate that PIP costs but you lose out on the guarantees that PIP provided consumers in the event of a dispute with your insurance company.

Gelber represents the majority of Floria citizens who want pip extended.He opposes the railroading legislation Rubio and Bogdanoff are used to.Keep it up gop..Next year the voter may wake up and as why you lied to them about pip ,taxes and insurance.Go adead defend the progress of the Lobbyist lead legislature..You cant can you .

A back bench minority like Congress could turn into a front bench majority!Its caled the constitution ..Something that is not relevant to the GOP.

8:05
You have the option. PIP will cease to be a requirement. You do have the option of retaining it or, as you say, payin for Medpay.

GELBER IS A BOOB

Dear Speaker Rubio:

While Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff nonchalantly stated in the Rules and Calendar Council during the last regular session that Medicare or Medicaid could pay for auto accident victims (as aired on the internet), I hoped and prayed that you would have greater insight and maturity. Hopefully, I am right. Mr. Speaker, please do the right thing and re-enact PIP without the games and the doublespeak.

The Tallahassee outsiders are common folk but we remember and will inform our friends and neighbors about our impressions of our Government in Tallahassee.

Regards,

Republican Citizen

8:05

I understand that you can retain the benefit (at higher cost to the consumer), but you lose the protections that the current statute provides consumers in the event of a dispute.

You know sometimes insurance companies just don't pay claims and under the current system their are clearly mandated protections that favor the comnsumer. Those protections are gone when PIP is gone.

If you like, I can go into more detail, but please understand that medpay does not provide the consumer the same recourse PIP does.

Medpay
Increased Bodily Injury coverage
Increased Uninsured Motorists coverage
Increase Taxes for Hospital (and Disctricts)
Increase Fire Fees/Taxes
Loss of Pension Funds to Police and Fire

All to get rid of PIP that costs $16 a month.

Pays for all in car at time of accident.

Pays for pedestrians.
Pays for burial costs.

BIG INSURANCE AT IT AGAIN!!

8:37 -- you're wrong that you lose the protections if you opt to have mandatory PIP.

While the required PIP sunset October 1, a separate statute, "the bad faith" law remains in effect. It requires insurance companies to pay the claim within 30 days. IF they don't pay it, you have the right to sue the insurance company.

No, you are wrong and getting two different things confused.

True, if your policy was in effect prior to 10/1 you retain your PIP you are still protected under the good faith law, but if you purchase a policy that has medpay post 10/1 those protections no longer apply and your carrier can treat you just like your health insurer, ever try to dispute denial of payment from your health insurer?

Gelber your weekly letters are getting to be pathetic.
And if you have a problem with the closed door meetings write a letter to you liberal governor, it is his office that is hosting those meetings, not the speaker.

PIP is a huge boondoggle. It should have died long ago, RIP.
Why is it that 38 other states have no mandatory PIP and have lower insurance rates?
I will be canceling my PIP October 1st.
I do not need to pay for the same coverage twice.

Gelber & Geller were the 2 Democratic fatcats that was trying to prevent property tax cuts during the regular session. They wanted local government to continue to spend like drunken sailors.

Save your breath Gelber

Gelber is a really smart guy, but they need to get more creative than just sending letters.

Charlie Crist is gonna slap that Rubio with a wet noodle...So There I said it..A giant empty suit without any backbone..

Trial Lawyer here...Get ready for increasing liability rates..and a Flood of lawsuits.Pip was a great improvement over what we had in the 70s.From my point of view its great for the trial lawyers because you can sue without a requirement of permanant injury.Our senior members believe that the value of whiplash cases will triple but the 60 per cent of the folks in dade(Floridas poorest county with the highest percentage of uninsureds and illegal aliens) without health ins are going to do what med mal victims now have to with the caps ..Get the Fla Govt to pay all the bills .Enjoy !Its all going to be dumped on the hospitals and ultimately the taxpayers.