Political Races
On November 3, Florida Senator Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland) announced she was running to be Florida’s next Governor, taking on Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican Primary. Dockery , 48, claims she is giving voters a “fresh face to consider” and indicated that it was not her intention to create havoc for the Republican Party, but rather to reclaim the party because people are frustrated with the party establishment. Perceived as a maverick and a GOP moderate, Dockery was recently hailed by some for fighting against creating the Central Florida Sunrail commuter train. To date, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink remains the sole democratic contender for the Governor’s mansion.
Governor Crist established February 2, 2010, as the date for the Special Election for U.S. House Congressional District 19 to replace Congressman Robert Wexler. Congressman Wexler announced last month that he was resigning to take a position with a non-profit Washington ” think tank” that focuses on Middle East issues. Florida Senator Ted Deutch has announced his candidacy for the U.S. post and former Florida legislator and Broward County Commissioner Ben Graber has also declared he will run for the open seat.
The Secretary for the Agency for Health Care Administration, Holly Benson, resigned from her post to enter the race for attorney general, facing Republican challenger, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. Benson served in the Florida House of Representatives and was tapped by Governor Bush to lead the Department of Business & Professional Regulation before being moved to the Agency for Health Care Administration. A native of Pensacola, Benson worked previously as a bond attorney. Florida Senators Dave Aronberg (D-Green Acres) and Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach) currently are the democratic opponents seeking the top legal spot.
Workers’ Compensation Rates Decline Again—Seventh Year in a Row
Recently, Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty approved the proposed rate decrease submitted by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for workers' compensation insurance rates. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, the overall average statewide rate decrease of 6.8 percent for all new and renewal workers’ compensation insurance in Florida will take effect, producing an estimated savings of more than $166 million for Florida employers. The rate decrease represents the seventh consecutive decline in workers’ compensation rates since the Legislature passed sweeping reforms in 2003, bringing the cumulative total of rate reductions to 63.2 percent!
“This is good news for Florida employers, and the Florida economy,” stated Commissioner McCarty. “Both the Legislature and Governor should be commended for enacting HB 903, which clarified attorney’s fees are subject to limitations in response to the Florida Supreme Court decision in the Emma Murray case. If it were not for this legislation, the workers’ compensation industry in Florida would likely have proposed rate increases instead of decreases in 2010.”
FBMA joined other stakeholders in ensuring passage of HB 903 which helped reverse a proposed 18.6% increase in workers’ compensation rates and instead resulted in the proposed 6.8% decrease. Interestingly, prior to 2003 legislative reforms, Florida had the first or second highest workers’ compensation rates in the country. Last year, Florida dropped to the 28th highest; the most recent round of rate reductions will place Florida among the lowest 10 states in the country.
