DeSantis accused of favoring insurance-industry donors at residents’ expense

Guardian ^ | 3 May 2023 09.51 | David Smith

[conservative98]

Ron DeSantis, the rightwing Republican governor of Florida and a likely 2024 presidential candidate, has handed favors to his big-money donors in the insurance industry at the expense of cash-strapped residents of his state, a new report claims.

The report, “How Ron DeSantis sold out Florida homeowners”, draws on contributions from the American Federation of Teachers union, the non-profit Center for Popular Democracy, the voting rights group Florida Rising and the dark money watchdog Hedge Clippers.

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the report’s authors suggest, that DeSantis’s administration has put the insurance companies’ interests ahead of Florida’s own citizens, who are battling homeowner insurance rates nearly triple the national average.

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Brown, a community liaison specialist for public schools, added: “The insurance everywhere here is crazy from Broward all the way to Dade. I’ve asked so many people and they’ve said the same thing. Their insurance has gone sky high.”

The report argues that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is dominated by industry insiders who approved insurance price hikes at greater rates than were seen under previous governors.

“Evidence is mounting that big insurance has blocked proposals that would have lowered costs for consumers,” it continues. “A 2022 proposal by state senator Jeff Brandes claimed to reduce insurance and save Floridians ‘$750 million to $1 billion a year’ by allowing smaller insurance companies to access the catastrophic reinsurance fund. The insurance-heavy business lobby reportedly blocked the plan.”

The authors draw a contrast with Louisiana, which they say has a more robust property casualty insurance market despite similar hurricane risks. Unlike DeSantis’s insurance industry handouts, they contend, Louisiana conditions its subsidies to the insurance industry on increased participation in the state property insurance market.

[M. Thatcher]

You state that insurance rates have skyrocketed in Florida. I ask you why that has happened, and you tell me that's not how it works. WTF?

The "WHY" is immaterial. The governor of Florida—fairly or not—is politically vulnerable on the issue, because Forida insurance costs are suddenly astronomical and Floridians are pissed. Opponents will always, always, always use wallet issues. That's my point. That is how it works in politics, like it or not.

[thefactor]

So you’re saying that no matter why insurance rates have gone up (perhaps due to rising property values or the fact that storms do more damage due to development of previously empty land) the Governor is automatically at fault. You, and your friends, aren’t will to actually do some research and ask questions about why your rates have gone up. You just say “It’s DeSantis’ fault” and will vote accordingly. Seems weird, but go ahead!

[M. Thatcher]

So you’re saying that no matter why insurance rates have gone up (perhaps due to rising property values or the fact that storms do more damage due to development of previously empty land) the Governor is automatically at fault. You, and your friends, aren’t will to actually do some research and ask questions about why your rates have gone up. You just say “It’s DeSantis’ fault” and will vote accordingly. Seems weird, but go ahead!

I said nothing of the sort. I am perfectly capable of expressing myself, and do not need bad-faith assistance. Not a single sentence you've written expresses my point.

I said skyrocketing insurance rates is a political vulnerability. Fair or not. That's my point, and it's correct.

[lodi90]

The insurance rigmarole is a long standing issue in Florida that predates DeSantis’s term as governor. No genuine Floridan will believe this nonsense.

[Brilliant]

It’s a never ending stream of trumped up media allegations against DeSantis. It started in earnest immediately after he was first nominated to run for Governor. The media ran story after story claiming he was a racist without even having the slightest evidence. They did so because his political opponent was black. Nothing more. They lost on that allegation but it did not stop them from making up new ones out of thin air. This is just another example.

[Brian Griffin]

“house I bought in ‘92 for $89K is supposedly worth $450K now.

Wonder if that might have something to do with it?”

Real property insurance is normally keyed to the cost of the structure (and in Florida its age).

Construction costs are up about four-fold, so $1700 = (4*($169+$256)) total would be the construction cost inflated comparable premium total.

[chickenlips]

Maybe DeSantis needs to talk about how “flattening the curve” was the beginning of flattening commercial real estate?

[NorthMountain]

the American Federation of Teachers union, the non-profit Center for Popular Democracy, the voting rights group Florida Rising and the dark money watchdog Hedge Clippers.

ROFL!!!