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Go to Tallahassee for special session, 12/31

The media have kept us aware of the failure of our Florida lawmakers to make homeowners insurance available and affordable. Many of us realize it is a crisis that can affect the whole economy if changes are not made quickly.

I urge every citizen who can to please attend the first day of the Legislature's special session Jan. 16. Let the legislators know that the citizens' lobby is much bigger than the insurance lobby, which has foisted this jumble of twisted law on the people of Florida.

The Legislature is appointing insurance industry people to draft legislation. But if thousands of Floridians rally to protest, it would be evident that alternative options are imperative.

If you want to take part in the rally to Tallahassee on Jan. 16, leaving from Hernando County, call me at (352) 596-8267 to reserve your seat for a one-day bus trip. The cost is $30, with a check made out to ACBS Travel no later than Jan. 9.

Having Affordable Coverage - formerly known as Homeowners Against Citizens - started this rally (www.hacfl.org or (727) 853-1279), and I am part of a group of concerned residents in Brookridge.

Please call or write Sen. Paula Dockery, toll-free 1-866-853-1279; Rep. Robert Schenck, (352) 860-5160; Gov.-elect Charlie Crist, (850) 414-3300; House Speaker Marco Rubio, (850) 488-4092; or Senate President Ken Pruitt, (850) 487-5088.

Your calls and presence in Tallahassee will make a difference.

Pat Forster, Brooksville

Southeast could use disaster fund

As I see it, every time there is a problem in Tallahassee, the politicians' remedy is to tax the population of Florida.

The problem is homeowners insurance. We have National Flood Insurance, which I have purchased for the past 27 years even though I'm not in a flood zone. The governors of the Southern states involved in hurricanes and sinkhole disasters should have a conference on putting together a Southern States Disaster Insurance Fund.

To start, we would bring back Rebecca Paul, the first head of the lottery, and ask her to put together a multistate lottery with a $50-million winner and put the proceeds in a profit-bearing account. That would be our seed money until we get on our feet. Each homeowner who wants disaster insurance for wind or sinkhole damage could buy in at a reasonable price.

The insurance companies must be regulated not to dump all of their policy problems on this fund. Politicians must stay out of it. We must find an honest person who knows insurance and put together a fund.

Any insurance company found to be dumping on this fund shall be forbidden from doing business in the states involved. If we find a new insurance company or an existing one doing business for the crooked one, it would be fined or else face the same fate.

Walter B. O'Reilly, New Port Richey

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[Last modified December 30, 2006, 20:55:58]