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Insurance blame to go around

By now everyone in our area understands and feels the insurance crisis that grips Florida homeowners and business owners as well as most of the Southeast.

Well before most realized it was happening in our area, our local legislators worked to alert state officials of the looming crunch. State Sen. Mike Fasano even hosted a local forum and invited state officials and Citizens Property Insurance managers to attend in an attempt to shed light on the growing dilemma. Our local officials were right to ask for help. But state insurance regulators and others, instead of working to fix the many complex issues, have chosen to point fingers instead.

Months later we are no closer to any relief. While the governor now says he would support a special session on insurance, he is making the reasonable request that viable proposals be put on the table first.

Today there are none!

While this frustrates us all, we must first understand the complexity of the problem and how we got to this point. We must also define what we can and can't change so we can spend our time and energy on issues we can resolve.

This is where the finger-pointing really begins. Unfortunately, this is based on incomplete and inaccurate information and is a gigantic waste of time when time is costing us all money. There is plenty of blame to go around, and almost everyone in the state shares part of it.

The first part of the problem has brewed for decades. Floridians have elected insurance commissioners based on votes instead of market decisions. This kept catastrophe money at levels that failed to keep up with rising repair and replacement costs. This helped burst the bubble as the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 hit us.

The next major problem is the insurers themselves. Florida law allows insurers to sell different lines of insurance and not offer homeowners policies even though they must do so in other states (California for example). This can and should be fixed by regulators and legislators.

In Pasco and Hernando counties, as much as 36 percent of our total premiums go toward sinkhole losses. Because this problem is worse in our area than in other parts of the state, legislators from other regions have been unwilling to spend the time and energy to fix the problem and work on a viable solution.

In Pasco and Hernando, we would rejoice if we had only the "high" rates about which the rest of Florida is complaining. A 35 percent reduction wouldn't solve all the problems, but it would be a huge and welcomed start.

At this point we have two choices. The first is to wait for the state government as a whole to decide that enough is enough and to fix our insurance crisis. Lobbying efforts by those benefiting from sinkhole losses could certainly prolong or stop such an effort in its tracks.

The other choice is to establish a local taxing district for Pasco and Hernando counties for sinkhole claims. A locally elected board could then appropriately establish governing rules. This would allow us at the local level to more accurately define what is or isn't a sinkhole. We have all been quick to blame sinkhole attorneys, and I still hear that every day. This is not correct because they did not make the rules and they are merely representing their clients the best they can within the framework of the law. If we want it changed, we must change the rules and the laws.

This may or may not be the best option. I am waiting for something else to come forward. We can't afford to think about this for a year or two. The crisis is affecting the value of our homes, the service economy we work in and the very livelihood of our families, our friends and our neighbors.

Let us take a step now, not later, showing the state how problems can be fixed when people work together.

Greg Armstrong, New Port Richey

Bank loses a customer for not offering deposit slips in English

Re: Is Spanish language taking over? Aug. 3 letter

Yes. It appears to be. When making a deposit at Washington Mutual on U.S. 19 in Holiday, I asked for a checking deposit slip. I was directed to a counter where I found only Spanish language paperwork. I asked the woman at the main desk if she had English deposit slips and was told no, they did not.

There will be no checking or savings in my name at that bank. Ever.

Denise Blackford, New Port Richey

Letter writer's encounter with Spanish booklets makes sense

Re: Is Spanish language taking over? Aug. 3 letter

Did it ever dawn on the letter writer why there are no books in English? Could it be that there are way more English-speaking people than Spanish-speaking? If I were the letter writer, I'd be worried if it was the other way around.

Alfred Gioielli, New Port Richey

We're not asking much to have English documents in our country

Re: Is Spanish language taking over?

Is Spanish becoming the primary language? This is the United States of America! I understand that this is the land of the free and opportunity and all, but this is ridiculous!

If I were to go into another country, I certainly would not expect them to adapt to my language. I would have to speak their language in order to communicate. English should be No. 1 in this country.

What I see happening is English-speaking U.S. citizens being treated like little redheaded stepchildren. I don't think we are asking much to have English documents and pamphlets.

Coleen Lockwood, New Port Richey

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[Last modified August 7, 2006, 07:48:07]