Politics

Efficiencies, not tax hikes

By TIMES STAFF
Published August 18, 2007

Some questions and answers with Gov. Charlie Crist, who met with the editorial board of the St. Petersburg Times on Friday.

On budget cuts

When the Legislature meets next month to figure out how to resolve the state's $1.5-billion budget shortfall, will you be looking at raising any fees or taxes to go along with the cuts?

"I'm not enamored to that. It's not something I'm advocating. I think that what we are doing or striving to do in the administration is to try to find efficiencies."

On property insurance

Are you satisfied with the changes that were made earlier this year to laws on homeowners insurance?

"I'm pleased with the law, not pleased with adherence to the law. ... This is an enormously powerful industry used to having their way and used to taking advantage of people, and businesses throughout the state of Florida and the country."

Do you suspect insurance companies are working in collusion to keep rates higher than necessary?

"Perhaps. Suspect? Yes. Know? I'm not certain. That's clearly possible. When you see the major companies continue to file for enormous increases after they don't have any risk anymore, you have to wonder what the hell is going on. It's like the old Standard Oil days.

Did you over-promise rate decreases earlier this year?

"I never promised anything. I'm not going to over-promise. I'm very careful about how I speak. What I've done is promised this administration's best efforts to do everything we can to reduce the burden of property insurance and property taxes. I can't say it will be a 30 percent reduction. I'd be a moron to say that. Why would I do that? That would be galactically stupid."

On the demise of PIP

Do you plan to push more aggressively to have lawmakers take up the expiration of Personal Injury Protection automobile insurance?

"Probably not. I would like it to be extended. I would sign it if it were extended. I think $10,000 worth of coverage is better than none.

"But I didn't run for governor thinking about PIP. I really didn't. I ran for governor to protect Florida, to try to help consumers, to help education. This was not foremost in my mind.

"I think it would be good to continue personal injury protection. I concur with the CFO."

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 23:33:30]