Gov to announce session for prop taxes, PIP

Gov. Charlie Crist just told reporters that he will have an announcement at 12:30 today relating to property taxes and no-fault auto insurance, or PIP. Herald sources tell us it will be a second special session, after lawmakers complete their required budget session this week.

Legislature releases "call'' with no PIP

In a sign that the distance between the House and Senate is still too great on restoring no-fault auto insurance (PIP) and property taxes, House and Senate leaders have released their official agenda for the special session that begins Oct. 3 and it doesn't include those issues. Download special_session_call_9_28_07.pdf

House releases PIP compromise

House leaders release proposed compromise with the Senate to restore no-fault coverage in Florida after it expires next week. Here's the draft: Download pip_draft_2_92707.pdf  Here's the letter from House lead on the issue, Rep, Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale: Download bogdanoff_92707.doc

This bill extends the requirement for drivers to buy $10,000 of personal injury protection, also known as PIP. It contains some anti-fraud measures.

Gelber wants seat at PIP food fight

House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber weighs in today with another one of his epistles to House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt, this time demanding the no-fault negotiations be brought into the sunlight. Download gelber_letter_on_auto_insur.pdf The talks prompted Rubio on Tuesday to call it "one of the messiest special interest food fights I've ever seen.''

Gelber said that, as with the regular session, when the issue was never raised nor reviewed openly in committee but negotiated extensively behind closed doors, "sadly, history is repeating itself.''

"Rather than rush to slap together a compromise in private, we ought to give the legislature an opportunity to craft a real solution in public and in plain sight.'' But as Gelber's message went out, the governor's office was hosting a meeting for the third consecutive day on the issue. At the table: lobbyists representing auto insurers, hospitals, lawyers and the governor's point man on the issue, attorney Chris Kise. Kise is then conducting shuttle diplomacy between House and Senate leaders on the issue.

Could the meetings be moved into the open? Yes, says one of the participants, "but no one would say anything."