Crist no fan of State Farm's rate hike request

Gov. Charlie Crist sent a letter to Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty saying he was very concerned about State Farm's request for a 47.1 percent hike.

"While you have not had an opportunity to review this rate filing, I am concerned that such a significant rate increase could create a breaking point for the budgets of some of our fellow Floridians," Crist wrote.

Read the letter here. The letter offers a glimpse of the governor's view of State Farm's request.

--Jennifer Liberto, Times Staff Writer

Comments

I wonder how Crist found out? Could it be the he and McCarty are on a trade mission together in Europe blowing hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Yes, they are blowing through the money like drunken Village People sailors.

I would love for State Farm to come on this board and tell everyone what it would take for them to make a rate filing reducing premiums by 47%....

Interesting thing, I have State Farm and the last correspondence I received from them about renewing my home owners policy went over everything but the cost...

Kevin, please require ALL insurance companies to provide in an 18 point font, the cost of renewals in their notices. My guess is many people don't really know what it costs since it is rolled into their mortgage payment, and with many with adjustable rates, they REALLY have no way of knowing unless they ask.

so Crist's office sent a letter to McCarty's office, even though both of them are together in Europe? That's like my cousin's kids texting each other while they are sitting next to each other in the back seat of the car.

[Donald Lance]

How did Charlie get that letter to FL so quick? Did he fedEx it on the citizen's dime? Couldn't he just send an e-mail?

Or couldn't he just do a little pillow talk to McCarty instead?

How much campaign money has Sen. Atwater received from State Farm?

total crock

Legislators don't set insurance rates or pick the insurance commissioner so that doesn't matter - 5:52.

[Constance DO Good]

Can you say AUTOPEN?

What a BS letter. It doesn't say anything at all. He really is Chauncey Gardner. Chauncey watched TV and saw people on vacation in Europe send postcards home to their friends. "I watch" said Chaucey Crist.

[JEB Republican]

If you don't like State Farm, fire them and stop whinning. This is America folks. Let State Farm charge what they want. If it is too high for you, go to Citizens Property Company or some other insurance company. All you folks for government price control price should try living in some communist country where the government controls the price of everything. For me, I like the good ole USA and market based competition as the best protector of the consumer.

And this letter does what? Oh, that's right. It gets charlie another day of stories to show the public he's fighting for them! Thank goodness we have Charlie Crist fighting for us. And, by the way, why is the Insurance Commissioner on a trade mission with the Governor? What's up with that? I can understand if he has to meet with Lloyds, but for 10 or so days? Yeah...this letter is nothing more than an effort to get a news cycle to cover something other than the fact charlie is jetsetting while Florida struggles to regain itself. I'm personally disgusted with Charlie, but even moreso with the media who have let him learn that he can play them and not be held accountable. The Florida media have become a sad lost cause.

[John]

Soon, we will see that State Farm hires Brian Ballard, and George Lemioux. Then, they will get a nice rate increase. Not too hard to read this administration.

Regarding State Farm hiring Brian Ballard as their lobbyist, why hire Clyde, when you already have Mac Stipanovich aka Zenator? Brian and Mac have been joined at the hip since the Bob Martinez days. Remember who engineered the U.S. Sugar Deal A good source has it that a grand jury may be looking at that one. The deal was sweet alright - they got the sugar and the Florida taxpayers got the cane.

[Jason Straight]

We know this is a ploy to drop more Floridians.The GOP leadership refused a provision prohibting the ins industry from writing auto policies..This is the reward.Crist needs some guts here ..If the drop more Floridans they need to pay a finacial price..They got aLL THE tort reform they wanted ..no joint liability damage caPS right wing trial and appeals judges ..The consumer is getting screwed in every direction.The govt of this state exists to serve its own bureaucrats and the industries they regulate not the citizens..Gov Sink looks good right here ..

[terminator]

where is Chuckles the clown Crist today?

So tired of the rhetoric and focus on PR. Show me results or be quiet.

"While you have not had an opportunity to review this rate filing"

NOTE: Crist advises McCarty on his position, when neither have even had the oppotunity to consider all the implicaitons of the rate hike.

Sounds like the decision has already been made.

Such *thorough* work by 2 of Florida's finest vacation...err trade mission-ing in Europe.

"the drop more Floridans they need to pay a finacial price.."

huh??? fine a company for stopping doing business? State Farm will pack up and leave and there isn't a damn thing Florida can do about it except blame itself.