Politics and policy of PIP and the Senate

As they inch toward some accord on no-fault car insurance, the House and Senate point-politicians conceptually agree that they want a billing schedule to clear up payment disputes, lawyer-fee caps, more power for the attorney general to pursue tight-fisted insurance companies, protections for hospitals and clearer definitions of what's necessary and billable non-emergency care.

They concretely agree on one this: Any solution faces a tough slog in the Senate heading into the September special session.

"I’ve got my votes in the House," said Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale. "Go talk to the Senate. There is an interest group that says they can kill it in the Senate. They’re going to give it their best shot."

The interest group: the trial lawyers, a lobby that Bogdanoff's one-time political client, current Senate President Ken Pruitt, is rather friendly with. It's also a lobby that she suspects of running Republican candidate Darin Lentner against her.

Another reason any fix or overhaul for Personal Injury Protection won't pass easily in the Senate: It doesn't have the lemming-like tendency to charge over any cliff its presiding points out. And allowing PIP to go away with no good alternative could make for a rough landing, especially as the state budget, wind-insurance and property-tax woes bedevil legislators.

Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, acknowledged individual Senators have far more power in the process, especially under Pruitt's watch, and that "if there's a problem, it will be in the Senate." But the big problem is all the lobbying, he said.

"We have every interest group out there from the hospitals, to the insurers to the trial lawyers, doctors and chiropractors," Posey said. "If everybody hates it, it will probably be a good bill."

Said Bogdanoff: "We have State Farm and the trial lawyers on the same side. When the stars align like that, it's a scary proposition."

Comments

Bogdanoff does not have the votes. The reason she didn't put her bill on the floor during regular session was that she knew they would amend the Senate Bill to hers. The people that want to kill PIP are the Insurance Companies. No one who cares about the people will vote for attorney's fees on PIP. Fee Schedule, yes, Attorney's Fees, no. If you have attorney's fees then Rivera's little friends at United will never have an incentive to pay claims.

Inching towards an accord? How many inches does one need to be officially shafted by BIG INSURANCE and the Florida Legislature?

Little friends at United. They are not so little and have a good bit of juice.

Who is Ellyn Bogdanoff fooling? Must be the citizens of the State of Florida.

Obnoxious. Self-important. Pompous. Effete. Entitled. Holier-than-thou. Righteous. Larger-than-life. Stuck-up. Snobbish. Prig. Petty. Petulant. Peevish. Pedantic.

[derek]

pip should & needs to be extended with stronger fraud provisions. pip rates have declined in the last 3 years. the people of florida are not complaining about auto rates. florida has more important issues that need to be adressed than retooling a system that is not broken. is it perfect no but it should be scrapped.
extend pip 4 more years with stronger fraud provisons & lets concentrate on the pressing issues home owners ins. &taxes

Off the blogs Lentner and Chiari. Get your rest so you can go out ambulance chasing first thing tomorrow morning

Oh the self-righteous put-downs of Mr. Lentner and Mr. Chiari. One a Republican and the other a Democrat and both want to take your spot Representative Bogdanoff.

See what happens when you carry the water of Big Insurance.

What will happen when you carry the water for PIP scum ?

If one does not represent Big Insurance then one can't carry the water for PIP scum.

[jerry k]

ask state farm to leave florida and arrest united auto for rico. that will solve the problem!!!!

It is sad how little the public understands the depth of erosion of their rights to access to the courts. Most Big insurance companies are not consumer oriented and this whole kill PIP agenda is simply about big insurance companies making more money at the comsumer's expense. The public does not understand until they are personally injured and then are confronted with how little they have in options to help them recover. With PIP sunsetting and with no gate keepers (attorneys) keeping insurance companies on their toes the public will end up footing the bill and watch insurance companies will again post record profits. If Fraud were the true problem real monies would have been dedicated to this issue. It is hardly even discussed. The people sponsoring/supporting PIP sunsetting and or capping attorneys fees instead of going after fraud (the whole reason they supposedly wanted to kill PIP) are not consumer/public servants and are clearly instruments of the insurance industry and nothing else. Period. One day the public will get it, hopefully soon.

[E Styles]

Bogdanoff is in the pockets of State Farm. Her political career is over. 08 and done. Forces are aligning against her for her anti-consumer behavior. What good is PIP if the insurance company wont pay your bill and lawyers wont take the case because Bogdanoff is trying to rig it to take away their fees for the benefits of insurance companies. In her spare time, she is an insurance defense attorney She is a puppet of big insurance and is gone in 2008. The people will rise up against her.

[jeff]

ATTENTION ALL FLORIDIANS IF NO FAULT SUNSETS(& ALL MANDATORY INSURANCE WITH IT) WE WILL SAVE NOTHING & WILL WIND UP SPENDING MORE
(1) OUR BI & U/M RATES WILL INCREASE- NOT EVEN STATEFARM CAN DENY THIS
(2) COLLISION COVERAGE WILL DOUBLE OR MAYBE EVEN TRIPLE AS WHEN AN UNINSURED PERSON HITS YOU YOUR COMPANY WILL HAVE NO ONE TO SUBRO AGAINST THEREFORE THEY WILL HAVE TO RECOUP THIS LOSS IN MONEY & GUESS WHAT THEY WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO INCREASE RATES
(3) SINCE YOU HAVE TO GO THRU YOUR OWN COLLISON COVERAGE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, YOUR $500 DEDUCTIBLE-OOPS THEY FORGOT TO MENTION THAT ONE
(4) OUR TAXES WILL INCREASE TO COVER ALL THE UNINSUREDS HOSPITAL BILLS
(5) OUR HEALTH INSURANCE WILL INCREASE AS IT PAYS FOR BILLS PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR BY PIP-BLUE CROSS CONFIRMED THIS
I'M NOT A MATH MAJOR BUT THAT LOOKS TO ADD UP TO ALOT MORE THAN THE $360 STATEFARM SAYS WE WILL SAVE

P.S I HAVE A NEW TOURISM SLOGAN "COME TO FLORIDA WHERE THE UNINSURED LEARN TO DRIVE"

[Kathy]

E Styles is right. Bogdanoff, a defense attorney for insurance companies, is quite cozy with Richard Parrillo, the owner of United Automobile Insurance Company, who has contributed to her campaigns in 2004 and 2006. Bogdanoff's cousin has been recently awarded hundreds of United cases to defend. United has 10,000 claims pending in Miami and Broward courts. (See Sep 15, 2005 New Times for a complete accounting of United). Is it any wonder then that United has Bogdanoff trying to cap attorney fees. If they have already denied 10,000 claims with attorney fees, wait til Bogdanoff's caps. This will increase their profits tenfold. PUPPET BOGDANOFF MUST BE VOTED OUT OF THE OFFICE.

[Jim Bobbie]

PUPPET AND MINION OF INSURANCE COMPANIES BOGNDAOFF MUST GO. CHIARI OR LENTNER. EITHER CANIDATE IS BETTER FOR FLORIDA'S CITIZENS.

[Oliver Tag]

GO CHIARI.
GO LENTNER.

[Yenli]

Puppet of insurance company wlln must be voted out. She hurts the good folks of Florida with her pro-big business agenda.

[Rick]

Let Bogndaoff go work for United Automobile Insurance Company with her cousin, helping United deny valid claims and defraud consumers.

Stop hurting the people of Florida Ellyn!

[charlie]

SOLUTION TO PIP
(1) $10K EMERGENCY CARE COV'G
(2) $5K OTHER

SO THE PEOPLE NOW HAVE $15K IN TOTAL BENEFITS & EVERYONE IS HAPPY-

PROBLEM SOLVED, ELLYN WRITE IT UP

[David]

Ellyn carries the water of big insurance. She is their pawn. She embodies everything that is wrong with a politician. Overly Ambitious. Greedy. Corrupt. Indifferent to the best interests of the people for her own political gain. Decietful. Enough Ellyn Bogdanoff, Enough.

[Frank]

The solution to PIP is not slash benefits to 5k. New York has 50k in PIP. This is Ellyn's proposal to pocket more dinero for her insurance company campaign contributors like State Farm and Untied Auto.

[Nostradamus]

Enjou your last year in Talli, Ellyn. Rides over January 2009.

[CHARLIE]

YEAH & NY PREMIUMS ARE MORE THAN TRIPLE OURS- THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA $$$ NOT COST THEM MORE

I'm sure Ellyn could care less about Chiari and Lenter at this point in time. They should be smart though because i doubt she will hesitate to fight back this go around. I would not want to be staring down the barrel of a million dollar arsenal and a pissed off Jew.

[why]

neither has a chance.
Bogdanoff over Letner - 65 - 35
Bogdanoff over Chiari - 59 -41

[Nostradamus]

Bogdanoff is going down in 2008. Then she can't treat the citizens of Florida like a private toybox for the benefit of big insurance. MILLION DOLLAR ARESENAL? Hah. All from insurance companies. The people will see through her corruption.

[Fitzie]

The people are going to be very educated in 2008, just how low this Ellyn goes.

[Inspector S]

Ellyn is worried. She should be soiling her drawers. She is done in 2008. Back to insurance defense busines.

Anyone with the name of "Fitzie" has no credibility in this conversation.

[Fitzie]

Didnt catch your name Ms. Anonymous or is that you Ms. Ellyn ?

Fitzie

[Fitzie]

Bogdanoff--08 and done. Predicted by Fitzie.

Fitzie return back home, collect your welfare check and get ready for you Dolphin Democrat meeting tonight.

[Fitzie]

mEET YOU there Ms. Bogdanoff. Unless you have dinner plans with your insurance company owner friends. The people elected you and the people will give you a sharp kick in the arse next November. Enjoy springtime in Talli, it be your last as an elected official. NO MORE CORRUPTION, NO MORE BOGDANOFF.

[Inspector S]

whos picking on Fitzie without the guts of naming themselves-- step up oh elusive insurance company employee and/or ellyn bogdanoff employee and/or ellyn bogdanoff. have the guts to id yourslef.

Fitzie,

I am new to this board but please explain to me who cares about Bogdanoff and her Insurance background ? She has been in the industry forever and her constituents haven't seemed to hold that against her in the past. What makes you thing a bunch of PIP scumbags are going to change the minds of thousands of voters in her district ?

[Carmen]

Look at the Governor, he is coming out saying insurance companies aren't going to run the capital anymore. Way to go Charlie. Insurance companies ran the capital under Jeb Bush and run the House through Marco Rubio and his lackies David Rivera and Ellyn Bogdanoff. Bogdanoff, Rubio and Rivera are puppets of the insurance companies. They will through the people of Florida in their stew to help big business and their own careers.

i've met fitzie before. he is one of those the mayor doesn't want in a fort lauderdale beach public bathroom.

Are any of you Liberal's insured ?

Just checking.

[Tony]

Bogdanoff and Rubio and Rivera are trolls.

I love how the D's are wasting their time with this unwinnable seat. Do they ever learn !

3:16.

These aren't your typical democrats on this blog. They belong to a left wing kooky club in Ft. Lauderdale and have no other real seat to fight for. The folks that live in District 91 aren't ready a PIP blog from the Miami Herald.

This is the one seat in Florida the dem's have no shot at and the kooks will realize it when there is little to no money pouring into their candidate.

The KOOKS come out at night. The KOOKS come out at night !!!

[Fitzie]

When the people of the 91 find out the truth about Elln Bogdanoff, they will want to vomit on her and her insurance company friends. The 91 is more open than you think, Ellyn is exactly the type of politicans voters are fed up with. Arrogant, greedy, corropt and corporate greed. I dont know how this lady sleeps at nigth. probaly as well as Jeb, George and Cheney. And Rommey.

Fitzie -

Your medicine is available at Walgreens by no later than 4:00pm this afternoon :)

[Fitzie]

08 and done. Miss Ellyn, insurance company puppet and minion will be exposed. The people of 91 would better off with Republican Darrin Lentner or democrat Chiari. Either one has more fortitude and character to allow themselves to be bought by United Automobile Insurance Company. Bogdanoff is too old to be this corrupt.

Fitzie,

The pharmacy closes in 10 minutes and without your meds you won't be very social at the Dolphin Dem meeting this evening.

The Fitz is a huge Kook. I met her at the white party on South Beach last September.

[Fitzie]

You hacks can attack me but that wont save insurance puppet Bogs from her political doom.

Fitzie, Fitzie, Fitzie, Will you come back on here after your boy gets beat by 17+ this time around. Haha