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| This week is Florida Firefighter Appreciation Week, and we all have much to be grateful for. Not only do these men and women save homes and lives during fires, but they also respond to automobile accidents, forest fires, hazardous material spills, hurricanes and more. This week we recognize 10 men and women for their leadership in the fire, rescue and emergency management services in 2005. Among them are a firefighter who pulled a woman from a house fire, an educator who works to protect wild animals during emergencies, and a forest ranger who helped manage a 650-acre fire. Their jobs are risky, and unfortunately we will also be honoring four firefighters who died last year in the line of duty. Their names will be added to 131 others already on the Florida Fallen Firefighter Wall of Honor. In the aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes and the threat of man-made disasters, in addition to daily duties of responding to fires, all of our emergency responders have valiantly responded to the needs of the people of Florida, and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. This week, if you know any firefighters, thank them and when a fire truck goes roaring by, say a prayer.
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| GALLAGHER RENEWS CALL FOR INSURANCE RATE RELIEF New Data From Revenue Estimating Conference Provides Further Cause For Relief The Florida General Revenue Estimating Conference released new estimates stating Florida is expected to receive an additional $960 million in unanticipated revenue this year and the next. Today’s estimate is in addition to the $3.2 billion in increased revenue announced by the Revenue Estimating Conference last November. “This surplus of nearly $4.2 billion strengthens the case for providing immediate insurance rate-relief to Florida’s homeowners,” said Tom Gallagher, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. “Providing rate relief for Florida’s families using surplus tax dollars is good public policy and I’m encouraged by the growing support for it from Governor Bush and state lawmakers. This is not a bailout of Citizens, it is common-sense relief for Florida’s hard-hit homeowners.” CONTINUED |
Mentoring of Children of Prisoners
| WORKSHOP HELD IN FLORIDA FOR FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS An integral part of our nation’s social service network are faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) which have a long tradition of helping Americans in need. President Bush has encouraged grants of federal funds to the most effective organizations—whether public or private, large or small, faith-based or secular. The beneficiaries are America’s poor who are best served by the providers who are most capable of meeting their needs. President Bush created the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives to strengthen and expand the role of FBCOs in providing social services. The federal government has worked to accomplish this mission through regulatory and policy reforms, legislative efforts, and public outreach to FBCOs. By making information about federal grants more accessible and the application process easier, the Initiative has enabled FBCOs to effectively compete for funds. CONTINUED |
| PROPERTY INSURANCE OPTIONS NEED TO IMPROVE Property insurance affordability and availability are challenges in Florida after eight catastrophic hurricanes inflicted $31 billion in insured losses, and damaged or destroyed one out of every five homes statewide over the past two years. Our state and our citizens have worked hard to recover and rebuild. As a member of the Florida Cabinet, CFO Gallagher is committed to working for common-sense rate relief and improving insurance coverage options this legislative session. |
| ANNUAL NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE MEETS FOR THE 28TH YEAR The national emergency management community gathered in Orlando for the 28th Annual National Hurricane Conference this past week. After the record-breaking season of 2005, interest is high on the topic of hurricanes, drawing 2,000 participants - emergency managers, first responders, forecasters, public officials, insurers, businesspeople, health-care specialists, volunteers and the news media. These front-line citizens who help communities prepare, endure and recover from hurricanes get together to discuss what went right and wrong in the past season to do better the next time. Meteorologists planned for improved computer models to predict storms, noted that the public doesn't always heed warnings or respond to forecasts, and encouraged officials to make the public more aware that storm-surge can cause a threat equal to wind damage and potentially be more life-threatening. CONTINUED |
