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Their choice for insurance watchdog: CFO

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE

A Senate committee voted 7-to-2 to place insurance regulation under the state's chief financial officer, although both the CFO and the governor said Tuesday it's a bad idea.

Florida has had an appointed insurance commissioner in charge of regulation since 2003, after voters trimmed the Cabinet from six statewide elected officials to three. This was done, in part, by consolidating two money-related posts, comptroller and treasurer, into chief financial officer.

Currently, it is overseen by the Florida Cabinet.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, said that now the insurance commissioner "is not answerable to any one individual," and "that means they're answerable to nobody."

Statewide enrollment in public schools dips

Public school enrollment has declined by 3,500 students since the last academic year, according to figures presented to the State Board of Education. The decline is the first since 1981-82.

Investigators: Inmate beaten after complaint

Four guards at Hendry Correctional Institution near the Everglades have been fired for allegedly beating and choking an inmate serving a life sentence for murder. Charles Gundlah was beaten because he had filed a grievance complaining about his treatment two days earlier, investigators said.

Cabinet, lt. gov. may need blind trusts soon

A Senate Ethics and Elections committee passed 8-to-1 a bill that would require Florida's Cabinet and lieutenant governor to put their personal stocks in a blind trust or mutual funds to avoid conflicts of interest.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 11:21:28]