Proctor, Bennett hint at override of insurance bill veto

Rep. Bill Proctor and Sen. Mike Bennett, sponsors of the insurance rate deregulation bill (HB1171) vetoed earlier today by Gov. Charlie Crist, are among the many legislation supporters (AIF, Florida Chamber, to name some) who are issuing statements of "disappointment" in his decision.

But the joint statement issued by the lawmakers is significant in hinting at plans to seek a veto override. That would require a 2/3 vote by both chambers. During session the bill got yes votes from 85 percent of the Legislature.

Read the Proctor-Bennett letter here. And keep reading for AIF President Barney Bishop's pointed statement...

“Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) and our business members are profoundly disappointed that Governor Crist will not allow Florida consumers to reap the benefits of receiving insurance coverage from any company of their choice. Our Governor has earned recognition thus far in his administration for artificially limiting the cost of property insurance in Florida, but today he has taken a turn for the worst with his veto of HB 1171. The Consumer Choice Act would have allowed many Floridians who can afford property insurance to stay with their current, trusted company rather than being forced to rely on Citizens.   

Unfortunately, as a result of today’s veto of HB 1171, hundreds of thousands of homeowners will have to switch to a thinly-financed insurance company they have never heard that will charge them as much, if not more than, their current insurer. Stabilizing Florida’s insurance market is one of the most important issues facing our state and today’s veto not only limits market competition, but also leaves many Floridians unprotected. AIF will come back next year, and every year after, to ask Florida’s elected leaders to give consumers real choice for their property insurance needs.” 

Comments

[whasup]

Well good. Let's hope the Legislature does override Good Times Shucking Chuckles on this stupid--absoulutely, dolt-headed stupid--veto.

[Bob]

Kudos to Crist for veto'ing this piece of garbage bill.

I'm sick of these insurance companies acting like the sky is going to fall if they don't get to gauge people who pay their rates.

They've already dropped all of their risky policies. Legislators like Bennett and Proctor are just stuck in State Farm's check book.

[capcitynole]

Someone will have to make sure Proctor is breathing and/or awake for this to happen.

[Vera]

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[get-smart]

I don't understand. What's the problem? If it's a good idea just override the veto!

For all you idiots that believe there are checks and balances, just check and balance it.

Congress has all the power .. period.

Cheers -

[Fire McCarty]

I am a strong supporter of Governor Crist, but this one he got wrong.

He needs to stop listening to fools like Kevin McCarty and realize that we are smart enough to make our own decisions as consumers.

If I want to pay more, and I know it, please let me for the good service of good neighbors.

[justice was done!]

when the people find out what that bill really did they will let their legislators have it if they override.

[one who knows]

The bill was actually remarkably simple and free of other provisions. It simply allowed certain large insurers, and only those insurers, to file rates under the normal procedure but which could not be disapproved on the basis of excessiveness. Rates could still be disapproved for inadequacy or in violation of unfair insurance trade practices (e.g. unfair discrimination).

Chuck is getting bad advice from Foy and McCarty, both of whom are advancing their own power agendas and blind to how badly this will hurt his Senate campaign as Rubio says "don't like the insurance market? Chuck had his chance and blew it" at every opportunity.

[Libertarians and other right wing fascists are entire in the pocket of big business.]

Attn Governor Crist - all the pure A-holes in the legislature and on this blog want to override your veto. Any question now about who's side "wasup" and "get smart" are on? It's certainly not We the People's.

[Who Cares]

Hmm, maybe AIF and the Chamber should have thought about this before politicizing their "scorecards" this year for the Democrats. If I were the Democratic caucus, I'd tell them to go screw themselves and then some. Ha!

[Jason Straight]

The legislature will never overide the veto cause the voters would find out and send them to Argentina with their leader Sanstrom and Terry Sanford..They kept this slimy bill under the radar and now their goose is cooked..We really need to throw a benefit for the insurance industry..Lets see the got every tort reform item they wanted screwing consumers,Screwed the working folk to keep them from hiring attys ,now they need more!Hey wake up people the GOP lost and will continue its self destruction wake up they dont have the GUTS!No veto will ever happen

[he did the right thing]

WE LOVE YOU GOVERNOR (SENATOR) CRIST!!

[SL]

It is really unbelievable to me that someone would accuse Rep. Proctor of being "stuck in State Farm's check book." Obviously, you have not followed this man's career or the work he has done during his time in the Legislature.
If you have read the bill and don't like it, that's one thing. But don't jump to conclusions based on other things you have read or accuse good people of ridiculous things.

[gulp gulp gulp]

Yes please override the veto. gulp gulp Thanks for setting me straight there "whasup" I can clearly see now that this bill is in the best interest of the people (snort!) whoops. gulp gulp gulp. Sorry, all better now! (braaap!)

[Yo Vera!!!]

LOL

Vera wants an override!

[Yo Vera!!!]

LOL

Vera wants an override!

[George]

Who knew Crist had a spine? State Farm actually doesn't control the state. Go figure. This bill set an awful precedent and should have been vetoed. Now we will see how much of the legislature the insurance companies control.

[gotitfigured]

McCarty has trouble telling the truth. Crist has a woody for State Farm and in the end we'll all get screwed when the money needs to be there.
Maybe Crist wants to get to the US Senate before the hurricane that breaks Florida so he can hide or tell those other 99 they need to pay off his gambling debt...
Alexander Hamilton was right.
So was Forrest Gump.

[Frank]

I like Governor Crist as well but he got this one wrong. Candidly, I have 2 advanced degrees and am plently smart enough to make my own choices on insurance and I would like to have more, not less.

Override the damn bill.

[Charlie's mom]

The boy needs spanked....
get out the override paddle and start whacking him.

[Nanny State]

I only really need basic necessities, but...

If I want to pay more for a house, I can.

If I want to pay more for a car, I can.

If I want to pay more for a suit, a tie, a shirt, a flight, etc.etc, because I want better service or more quality or any measure of things, I can.

Yes, I pay more. But that's my choice. Let me make my own choice, please.

[SF (screw florida)]

THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!!

SIGNED,
STATE FARM

[pops]

The best thing to happen now is an over ride to show Charlie how well he is liked. Come on boys and girls DO WHAT YOU ARE THERE FOR . Bring on the heat to our do nothing gov. Show you all have the guts and MAYBE you will get reelected.

[Gator(R)]

There is already disparate treatment between insurance companies. New companies do not have to be rated by a 'real' rating company like AM Best. Their ratings are based on short term time frames and lower capital requirements - this makes me nervous since my company is one of them. Who knows if they will be able to pay if a serious hurricane hits.

I do have concerns about a State Farm charging higher rates, then leaving. But I wouldn't mind the choice. Either way there is risk.

[Tired of Spray Tan Specter]

Wow Specter with a Tan has struck again.

He wants everyone to have government insurance in Florida, just like his best buddy Obama is doing to the nation.

Please learn from this and give to Marco.

[Charlie's mom]

Charlie was never that good at math in school. In fact, he was never that good at much at all , which really puzzled me when he ended up being put in office as the Education Commissioner. His best subject was always SUCKING UP to his teachers so he could be promoted to the next grade. Even when he failed a few tests like those bar exam things, his optimism ,like his tan , was never diminished.
Oh well , his father and I tried to raise a boy with some sense and failed. But what we didn't think would ever happen was that there would be so many knuckleheads out there who would actually believe him and vote for him.
We're so sorry Florida.

[Little Red Hen]

to Mr SF(screw florida)
When your SKY falls in on you and your worldly belongings are wrapped around the trees in what was once your neighbor's yard , dig out your blog from June 25 @ 7:52am and reread it. Then pull out your wallet and checkbook to see how much you have....and keep that checkbook out cause you're gonna be using it for a lot of years to come...to pay the assessments THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE PAYING IF YOU HAD STATE FARM...ahh but
you don't so...

And while your thinking about your smug little "sky is falling " taunt, did you ever her the one about "don't through me in that briar patch"?
State Farm is going to get the last laugh in this but that is a story for another time. Too bad you aren't bright enough to see that in advance.

[we love you Governor]

Gov. Just keep doing the right thing. Bennett should crawl back in the hot tub with his lobbyist girlfriends. Maybe we will find State Farm in there with him, you know, like a good neighbor. The House member is just a putz. Owned by the insurance industry and whatever other industry hands out the white envelopes $$$$$$$

[No More Government for ME]

Let's just go with Socialized Everything - Insurance, Banking, Health Insurance ---
I'm so sick of people wanting a 'quick fix' - guess what - there isn't one. But in America Free Enterprise has one every time it's been defended. Charlie's State Run Citizens will cost us all A LOT MORE - We're paying their fees now - all of us - every time we pay our premiums.............. And now he runs off the best of the best and puts thousands of hard-working Floridians (who work for State farm) out of work..... Let ME CHOOSE - not you.

[We need to tax the rich to make sure they're covered.]

Little Red Hen - you are on the mark, at least in one respect. If we don't want to be subject to extortion by State Farm, then we need to raise taxes to make sure that Citizens has enough reserves to cover "the big one." I suggest we tax the rich coastal dwellers since they make up the majority of the risk. Are you down with that?

[We need to tax the rich to make sure they're covered.]

Little Red Hen - you are on the mark, at least in one respect. If we don't want to be subject to extortion by State Farm, then we need to raise taxes to make sure that Citizens has enough reserves to cover "the big one." I suggest we tax the rich coastal dwellers since they make up the majority of the risk. Are you down with that?

Wow. Really bad move, Charlie. Veto a bill that passed with an 85 percent vote of 160 elected legislators. That's a pretty big bluff on which it appears you are about to be called.

[Libertarians = more failed conservatives in the pockets of big business]

9:11 you Libertarians are the most deluded bunch I've ever encountered. Your "Free Enterprise" has failed us miserably for the last 30 years. Oh wait, I forgot - that wasn't "real" free enterprise. (sarcasm) Citizens was created precisely because your system doesn't work. Given their way, without regulation, insurance companies pocket their profits and don't keep enough in reserve for the catastrophe they're paid to protect against. The government needs to step in and do a real risk assessment - and then make the insurance companies charge the coastal dwellers according to their actual risk, instead of telling those far from the shore that they have to subsidize the rich fat cats who are living large on the beaches.

[Ed]

I can't believe the few idiots that are applauding Charlie Crist.
Any major hurricane in the next few years will bankrupt the state of Florida. Just look at California as an example of what's likely to happen.
Louisiana deregulated insurance and they have a healthy market even after Katrina. Crist is popular to ignorant people because they don't realize what a tremendous liabilty the state has taken on and will have a huge TAX bill attached to it.

I hope the legislature does the right thing and overrides the veto.

[Eds a liar for hire]

Yes Ed there is a Santa Claus, and Katrina was a major success for the insurance industry. Not for their claimants, however.

[Bobby McCorkle]

You State Farm fanatics don't know what you are talking about. State Farm is not the only insurance company with the capital to handle a catastrophe. If you morons will remember, State Farm collected premiums for over 50 years here and then cried like a baby when they had to pay claims. I think what we have on these comments are State Farm agents that are whining about losing their jobs. I have neighbors around me that had State Farm during the hurricanes and they told me State Farm didn't do them any big favors, except cancel them. I have an insurance company with very reasonable rates that has more than sufficient capital to cover its customer base.