Volume 5 Number 4
January 25, 2008
This Tuesday, Floridians will cast two votes that will have a great impact on our future.

You will be asked to vote for your preference among presidential candidates in both parties.

You will also vote on Amendment 1 and whether to increase the homestead exemption and allow homeowners to transfer their tax benefits to a new residence. It is estimated that the increased homestead exemption will save homeowners an average of $240 annually.

The amendment also would create a new $25,000 exemption for some business properties and would cap assessment increases for non-homesteaded properties at 10 percent annually.

Please be an informed voter and exercise your right to vote on Tuesday.



 

 

CFO SINK ANNOUNCES 62 ARRESTS IN STATEWIDE THREE-DAY OPERATION
Anti-fraud operation targets 84 suspects from Pensacola to Miami

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today announced 62 Floridians have been arrested in a statewide, three-day operation that began Tuesday, targeting 84 individuals for various insurance fraud charges. The arrests, which range from Pensacola to Miami, involve alleged fraud schemes uncovered during months-long investigations with millions of dollars in potential losses.

Arrests on Tuesday included a Clearwater couple accused of title insurance fraud estimated at more than $7 million.

“Insurance fraud causes real financial pain and hurts Florida’s families, businesses and communities,” said CFO Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “Criminals need to know that we will not tolerate insurance fraud of any kind and we will aggressively pursue those who commit fraud on innocent Floridians.”
CONTINUED
  CFO SINK JOINS AG McCOLLUM TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM MORTGAGE-RELATED FRAUD

On Tuesday, January 22, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink joined Attorney General Bill McCollum in announcing a lawsuit, legislation and a task forced aimed at protecting Floridians from mortgage-related fraud. The Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act, sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano and Representative Clay Ford, will help to strengthen existing consumer protections by ensuring homeowners are properly informed about their rights when they are signing a contract with a foreclosure rescue entity.

See press release below:

McCOLLUM SUES "RESCUE FORECLOSURE" COMPANY, ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO FIGHT MORTGAGE-RELATED FRAUD
Attorney General, state leaders seek to protect homeowners from
deceptive practices  CONTINUED

 

 

 

 CFO SINK TO SPEAK AT FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2008 CENTRAL FLORIDA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink will be the keynote speaker this evening at the Florida Education Association (FEA) 2008 Central Florida Leadership Conference, to be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs. CFO Sink will speak about her role as Florida’s CFO and the role of teachers in securing a strong economic future for Florida.

From the FEA Web site at http://www.feaweb.org/: We are teachers and education staff professionals, working together to maintain the right to a free, quality public education system for all students to learn and succeed. We are working to advance professional growth, development and the status of all the employees who serve the students in Florida's public schools.  

 

CFO SINK SPEAKS AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY’S ANNUAL ‘ECONOMIC OUTLOOK’ LUNCHEON

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink was the keynote speaker today at the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Sarasota County’s annual “Economic Outlook” luncheon, held at Michael’s On East in Sarasota. CFO Sink spoke about her role as Florida’s CFO as well as highlighted the challenges and opportunities in Florida’s economic future.

From the EDC Web site at www.edcsarasotacounty.com:  The EDC of Sarasota County is the private, not-for-profit corporation leading the community’s economic development strategy to add high-wage jobs and diversify the local economy. The EDC provides business assistance to companies in Sarasota County and helps forge solutions to community challenges that affect quality of life. The EDC works in partnership with chambers of commerce, local governments and other organizations throughout the county and the region.


 
CITIZENS TASK FORCE WILL MEET FEBRUARY 1

 The Task Force on Citizens Property Insurance Claims Handling and Resolution will hold a public meeting on Friday, February 1, 2008, at 8301 Cypress Plaza Drive, Suite 108, Jacksonville, Florida, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. The agenda is posted on the Web site at http://taskforceoncitizensclaimshandling.org.

The meeting will be held in Jacksonville and  interested parties may want to listen to the meeting via conference call at dial-in number (888) 808-6959, Conference Code: 4132880. If you wish to attend the meeting via conference call, please place your phone on mute and please be aware that if you place your phone on “hold” all participants will hear your “hold” music. Callers will not be able to participate in the meeting, however, if there is a specific issue that you would like to bring to the Task Force’s attention, please email your concern to Vicki Twogood by Monday, January 28, 2008. If time permits, submissions will be read during the Public Testimony period or at the next Task Force meeting that is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 26, 2008, in Tallahassee. The February 1 meeting will be video recorded and posted on the website.


CFO Alex Sink and State Representative Bill Galvano held a press conference in Bradenton to promote Florida KidCare and the Healthy Kids program.


 

 CFO SINK AND REP. GALVANO TOUR BRADENTON HEALTHCARE FACILITY
Call for increased focus on affordable healthcare for Florida’s children

In an ongoing effort to increase awareness about Florida KidCare, the state’s affordable healthcare program for Florida’s children, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink joined State Representative Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) last week for a tour of the Manatee County Rural Health Services (MCRHS) facility in Bradenton. The MCRHS center mainly treats patients who are uninsured or participants in the KidCare program.  During the tour, CFO Sink and Rep. Galvano visited the health center’s dental facility, pharmacy, and tele-pharmacy. 

In addition to overseeing the Department of Financial Services, CFO Sink serves as the chair of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation.  During the past year, CFO Sink worked closely with Rep. Galvano and other Healthy Kids advocates to develop recommendations to streamline the program and make it easier for eligible working families to enroll their children.