TEXT-ONLY VERSION

As our nation mourns the loss of President Ronald Reagan, I’m reminded of his many great contributions to America’s history.  For me, Reagan’s greatest gift was returning to Americans a sense of pride in our country and the will to persevere in the face of adversity. Throughout his presidency he uplifted us as a nation to confront problems at home and abroad. 

During his administration, Americans witnessed the last gasps of communism in the former Soviet Union and in East Germany, as freedom began to prevail.  Our former cold war adversaries might not now be our friends and allies without the work of President Reagan.   

Reagan also offered comfort and eloquence in more tragic times, such as the Challenger shuttle disaster, which closely touched Floridians and fellow Americans around the country. President Bush followed Reagan’s example as he consoled Americans over the loss of the Columbia.

Reagan’s principles of using lower taxes to stimulate economic growth were revolutionary and led to tremendous economic recoveries during his administration.  These same principles, combined with strong fiscal discipline and a continued concern for protecting investors have been a model for state leaders here in Florida.  During recent economic downturns, other states have experienced extreme financial hardships and faced raising taxes to increase revenues, while Florida has lowered taxes and witnessed continued overall job growth and economic success.  

Reagan’s legacy lives on here in Florida, and in our nation.  As we grieve, let’s remember President Reagan as he would wish to be remembered – as a true American. 

My best,                                      

                                            
The cityscape for June is downtown Orlando as seen from Lake Eola.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA SINCE ANDREW 

On August 24, 1992, while I was serving as Florida’s insurance commissioner, Hurricane Andrew hit south of Miami and became the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

The estimated total losses from Andrew reached nearly $30 billion, $16 billion of that amount in insured losses. If Andrew had shifted one degree to the North, slamming into downtown Miami, insured losses would have been more than $50 billion. 

In the years before Andrew, much residential and commercial development had popped up along our shorelines and in our cities and towns - on land once used for orange groves and cattle farms. Every home and every shop needed property insurance protection and each insurer was issuing new policies to keep pace with the demand. Before Andrew, Florida’s property insurance market was one of the most active and competitive in the nation. But in Andrew’s wake, companies that took in $11 billion in the previous 20 years paid out $16 billion in losses.  CONTINUED

Following charges last July of grand theft and scheme to defraud, a former Orlando insurance agent has been arrested a second time for allegedly misappropriating workers’ compensation premiums paid by area businesses. The new charges also stem from the previous investigation.

“Workers’ compensation fraud is a major contributor in the rise of premium costs to small businesses,” said Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “We will continue to aggressively investigate instances of fraud and abuse of the workers’ compensation system.”
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