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Protesters bruised, not beaten

Tallahassee is barely responsive - they do catch Gov. Bush - but they are determined for homeowners insurance reform.

By GARRETT THEROLF
Published March 29, 2006

The sun was barely above the horizon Tuesday morning when 90 people - Realtors, senior citizens, stay-at-home moms - boarded the buses. They headed north, stopping briefly in Weeki Wachee to pick up others. Together, they had less cumulative advocacy experience than a rookie lobbyist, but they were headed to Tallahassee with high hopes.

"This may be the ultimate grass roots operation, but you know what? The cheesy thing about this country is that we still can be heard," said Nicole Deg, 29, a mom and the political novice who organized the trip.

Over a loud speaker, she marveled at the contingent of homeowners insurance policyholders who had come together. They heeded the call she made at a town hall meeting with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. executives earlier this month. Now they were taking the fight directly to the state Capitol.

"We did this on our own as a community," said Deg of New Port Richey. "That is so huge."

In Tallahassee, the homeowners insurance debate is still taking shape as the Legislature is in the first half of its annual session.

Lawmakers' ideas run the gamut. Some want to prohibit carriers from "cherry picking" by offering car, life and other types of insurance but not homeowners. Others think eliminating fraudulent sinkhole claims will lower rates.

Those who took the microphone at the front of Bus No. 1 on the long trip north had a few other ideas.

"We need an elected insurance commissioner again," Frederick Tomaski shouted.

"Did you know the insurance industry made $44-billion in Florida last year? Our lawmakers need to make them give that back," Jim Turtle said.

"Did you know Citizens changed its rules to value our homes at a higher market value, meaning we have to pay more for insurance? That should be reversed," said Harold Polski, stabbing the air and speaking in the cadence of a poet.

"Hang Jeb" and "Boot out Tom Gallagher" were shouted from the back.

Jerry Edwards, who has driven buses since 1971, including dozens of trips to Tallahassee every year, said he had never seen anything like it.

"I never thought," he said, "insurance would get the kind of passion we see for the abortion trips."

The optimistic chatter about the change they would bring never died as the ride wore on and boiled peanut stands replaced strip malls outside the windows. A hush fell when Deg announced that the governor was in town and that they hoped to take their complaints to him in person.

Bruce Adreon, 66, of New Port Richey joined his chanting comrades as they streamed off the buses, but now he had to figure out which room would lead them to an audience with Senate Insurance and Banking Committee Chairman Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah.

Who knew there would be three Room 302s in three attached buildings connected by bridges?

"You can't even tell where one building begins and another one ends," said Adreon, finally leading his small group of six demonstrators to the right room.

"We're here to see the senator," he said confidently, drawing blank stares from aides.

"I'm sure the senator has already heard what you have to say," aide Ana Oliveras told the group before agreeing to hear them out for the occupied lawmaker.

"She's not even taking notes," whispered Nelson Kallis, a Port Richey Realtor.

Even when they reached a lawmaker, the results were disappointing.

Deg spotted one of Pasco's senators, Republican Victor Crist. But she came on too strong. He moved past her, telling her she didn't have "the right attitude."

When a dozen of the bus riders spotted Gov. Bush, they rushed down and shouted, "We demand insurance reform."

"I'm in favor of that," Bush said before quickly returning his attention to reporters, commenting that the protesters were so loud that he was having trouble thinking straight.

Deg, her time in Tallahassee winding down, said she was left "feeling like Tallahassee is a shady place. I mean, they have all these bills floating around, but Sen. (Mike) Fasano said the real proposal will just pop up out of nowhere in the final weeks of session. How do we contribute to the debate over that?"

Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who provided logistical support to the group, spoke rousingly about how Tallahassee "is going to do something" to lower rates, but he acknowledged that "some of my colleagues still don't understand the crisis."

About 3 p.m., they boarded the buses. They were tired, hungry and unsatisfied. But they pledged not to give up. The trip home would be a lot quieter.

[Last modified March 29, 2006, 01:23:20]