Crist Slams DeSantis on Insurance Crisis, But Offers No Details on His Own Plan

In one of many first mentions of the Florida property insurance coverage disaster as a marketing campaign subject, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist spoke out in opposition to what he referred to as the incumbent governor’s lack of motion on rising premiums and insurer monetary troubles.

“Costs are rising and Floridians are hurting, however Gov. DeSantis is ignoring the issue — he’d quite give attention to tradition wars and his 2024 political ambitions,” Crist mentioned in an announcement on the Twitter social media website.

However Crist, who was Florida governor from 2007-2011 and is working once more this 12 months, didn’t present particulars on how he would handle the insurance coverage issues within the state, together with fee will increase, excessive quantities of claims litigation, and the liquidation of six insurers within the final 31 months.

On Twitter, he mentioned solely that, “Gov. DeSantis has turned a deaf ear to the insurance coverage disaster going through our state. Once I was governor, I lowered property insurance coverage premiums. And once I’m elected, I’ll do it once more.”

The Insurance coverage Journal in latest weeks has requested Crist and his workers for particulars on his insurance coverage reform plan, however has not heard again.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has mentioned he isn’t against a particular legislative session to take care of the disaster, if lawmakers convene one. However he has provided no roadmap for addressing Florida’s distinctive insurance coverage panorama, which incorporates hurricane losses and what insurers name exaggerated and fraudulent roof-replacement claims. At the least six carriers have stopped writing new enterprise within the state this 12 months and two have been put into liquidation.

A particular session has been referred to as for later this month to think about DeSantis’ Congressional redisctricting plan, nevertheless it received’t look at property insurance coverage issues. DeSantis mentioned one other session could also be scheduled after present Home Speaker Chris Sprowls leaves workplace.

The common, 2022 session ended March 11 with out passage of great reforms. Senate Invoice 1728, which might have made various adjustments favored by the insurance coverage business, handed the Senate however stalled within the Home as the tip of the statutory 60-day session approached.

When Crist was within the governor’s workplace greater than a decade in the past, he famously mentioned “good riddance” to State Farm’s property insurance coverage firm, Florida Politics information outlet reported. The insurance coverage service had threatened to depart the state when Crist refused to budge on some laws and permit bigger fee hikes after the 2004-2005 storm seasons.