11/09/2006
Small business fares well in Florida elections
Many thanks to all NFIB members and their employees who actively participated in the 2006 elections supporting small-business-friendly candidates at the state and federal levels. NFIB once again proved our grassroots network can get things done for free enterprise, and I appreciate the collective efforts from our team.
NFIB-endorsed candidates and amendments in Florida fared well. Of the 56 state-endorsed candidates listed below, 50 were winners. Voters adopted all six constitutional amendments, including NFIB/Florida-backed Amendments 3 and 8.
Amendment 3 is a significant small-business victory, as the state constitution now requires 60 percent voter approval to adopt future amendments. This will ensure the constitution can not be changed by well-moneyed, out-of-state interest groups and protect our state's charter from being "legislated." Amendment 8 now requires a 60 percent vote of the Legislature to change the eminent domain law passed in 2006. NFIB/Florida fought hard to pass the law that prohibits government from seizing private property through eminent domain for purposes of economic development and expanding the tax base.
The balance of political power remains largely the same in Florida, with a few notable exceptions. Small business scored a significant victory in the gubernatorial race with the election of Attorney General Charlie Crist. Endorsed by NFIB, Crist won with 52 percent of the vote in an election that featured a statewide turnout of 46 percent. Gov.-elect Crist will assume office from Gov. Jeb Bush following his inauguration on Jan. 2. Republicans no longer control the entire cabinet, as candidate Alex Sink defeated current Senate President Tom Lee for the office of chief financial officer. Charles Bronson was re-elected as Agriculture Commissioner and NFIB-endorsed Bill McCollum will be the next Attorney General. The Florida Senate remains status quo (24-16 for Republicans), while Democrats in the Florida House picked up seven seats. Republicans retained control of the House by a 78-42 margin.
The balance of political power at the federal level has changed. Democrats regained control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, picking up 27 seats in the House and six in the Senate, assuming the Virginia Senate race goes to Democrat candidate Jim Webb after a recount. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was easily reelected, defeating Katherine Harris. In Florida Congressional District 22, Congressman Clay Shaw was defeated by challenger Ron Klein; in Florida Congressional District 16, the seat once held by Mark Foley, challenger Tim Mahoney defeated Republican stand-in Joe Negron.
Overall, NFIB achieved an impressive 90 percent rate of success for endorsed candidates at the state and federal levels and the two amendment wins. Endorsements were made in 17 congressional races and 41 state races and initiatives, with one endorsed congressional candidate losing and five state candidates coming up short.
NFIB would like to thank each candidate, win or lose and NFIB-endorsed or not, for running for public office. It takes real dedication to run in these races, and small business thanks you for your willingness to serve.
| Federal | FL-01 | Rep. Jeff Miller | R | W |
| Federal | FL-02 | Rep. Allen Boyd | R | W |
| Federal | FL-04 | Rep. Ander Crenshaw | R | W |
| Federal | FL-05 | Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite | R | W |
| Federal | FL-06 | Rep. Cliff Stearns | R | W |
| Federal | FL-07 | Rep. John Mica | R | W |
| Federal | FL-08 | Rep. Ric Keller | R | W |
| Federal | FL-09 | Gus Bilirakis | R | W |
| Federal | FL-10 | Rep. Bill Young | R | W |
| Federal | FL-12 | Rep. Adam Putnam | R | W |
| Federal | FL-14 | Rep. Connie Mack | R | W |
| Federal | FL-15 | Rep. Dave Weldon | R | W |
| Federal | FL-18 | Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | R | W |
| Federal | FL-21 | Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart | R | W |
| Federal | FL-22 | Rep. Clay Shaw | R | L |
| Federal | FL-24 | Rep. Tom Feeney | R | W |
| Federal | FL-25 | Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart | R | W |
| State | FL-Gov | Charlie Crist | R | W |
| State | FL-CFO | Tom Lee | R | L |
| State | FL-AG | Bill McCollum | R | W |
| State | SC | Amendment 3 | NA | W |
| State | SC | Amendment 8 | NA | W |
| State | HD-03 | Rep. Holly Benson | R | W |
| State | HD-06 | Jimmy Patronis | R | W |
| State | HD-22 | Rep. Larry Cretul | R | W |
| State | HD-24 | Rep. Dennis Baxley | R | W |
| State | HD-26 | Rep. Pat Patterson | R | W |
| State | HD-28 | Rep. Dorothy Hukill | R | W |
| State | HD-31 | Rep. Mitch Needelman | R | W |
| State | HD-33 | Rep. Sandy Adams | R | W |
| State | HD-36 | Rep. Sheri McInvale | R | L |
| State | HD-40 | Rep. Andy Gardiner | R | W |
| State | HD-41 | Steve Precourt | R | W |
| State | HD-42 | Rep. Hugh Gibson | R | W |
| State | HD-45 | Rep. Tom Anderson | R | W |
| State | HD-47 | Rep. Kevin Ambler | R | W |
| State | HD-49 | Rep. John Quiñones | R | W |
| State | HD-56 | Rep. Trey Traviesa | R | W |
| State | HD-57 | Rep. Faye Culp | R | W |
| State | HD-60 | Rep. Ed Homan | R | W |
| State | HD-62 | Rep. Rich Glorioso | R | W |
| State | HD-69 | Laura Benson | R | L |
| State | HD-70 | Doug Holder | R | W |
| State | HD-73 | Nick Thompson | R | W |
| State | HD-77 | Rep. Denise Grimsley | R | W |
| State | HD-79 | Rep. Frank Attkisson | R | W |
| State | HD-81 | Rep. Gayle Harrell | R | W |
| State | HD-83 | Rep. Carl Domino | R | W |
| State | HD-87 | Rep. Adam Hasner | R | W |
| State | HD-91 | Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff | R | W |
| State | HD-97 | Susan Goldstein | R | L |
| State | SD-08 | Sen. Jim King | R | W |
| State | SD-10 | Ronda Storms | R | W |
| State | SD-14 | Steve Oelrich | R | W |
| State | SD-16 | Sen. Kim Berfield | R | L |
| State | SD-22 | Sen. Lee Constantine | R | W |
| State | SD-28 | Sen. Ken Pruitt | R | W |
| State | SD-30 | Ted Deutch | D | W |
Committee issues property insurance recommendations
The Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee has been meeting since August to develop consensus recommendations addressing Florida's property insurance crisis. The committee is required to make recommendations to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 15. We expect that Gov. Bush will call a special session of the Legislature once a consensus is reached.
In preliminary recommendations adopted on Oct. 26, the committee proposes changing rules regulating Florida's Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, making it easier for insurance companies to recover a portion of their paid claims, as well as encouraging the federal government to establish a similar fund. The committee will also recommend that the state expand its commitment to mitigation programs currently administered by the Department of Financial Services, encouraging business and homeowners to make their properties more hurricane resistant in exchange for property insurance premium credits and, in some cases, partial reimbursement from the state.
Finally the committee will recommend that Citizens Property Insurance Corporation be allowed to write the entire policy on properties it insures, eliminate rate filings by having the Office of Insurance Regulation set the rates on a quarterly basis and require policyholders to upgrade their structures to meet the statewide building code.
Additional information relating to the Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee may be found by visiting www.myfloridainsurancereform.com. For a copy of the committee's preliminary recommendations, please visit www.myfloridainsurancereform.com/docs/meeting102606/7b.pdf.
Sincerely,
Allen Douglas
NFIB/Florida state director
