Consumer groups urge veto of

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and claim HB 1171 wouldf pit the largest insurers againstythe smallest, which would be hamstrung by But, during a Wednesday news conference, Brad legislative advocate for Florida PIRG, said the answer is not deregulatioh of all companies. He said that rates need to more closel conform toreal risk, and that keeping rates artificiallu low, as did for several years, is not the Walter Dartland, the consumer federation’s executive emphasized that partial or complete deregulation is not the either. He maintains that the state’s rate review process has been a valuabls consumer protection tool against arbitraryyrate increases.
A practical solutionb would need to involve a deeper pool of specificallysmaller ones, and higher ratee that are regulated, Ashwelll said. “Florida is in the midsf of an economic crisis, and our residentsz cannot afford to be caughf in a volatile insurance market facee with erraticrate increases," he But, the insured also have to be realistic about the impacy a hurricane would have on them. Floridians will not be able toavoidd assessments. “It’s just a questio of how big the assessmentwill be,” Ashwell said.
The bill awaitinfg Crist’s signature would allow major carriers, such as Statse Farm, which earlier this year said it wouldleave Florida, to raises rates unchecked without a guarantee that they woul continue writing policies in the Dartland said his organization woul encourage State Farm and other s to poach the customers with the least leaving those with the most for companiews that are least capable of paying out in the eveny of a storm. “This doesn’gt help anybody except the few companiesx thatare involved,” he , one of the bill’s sponsors, Sen.
Michael R-Bradenton, asked Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty to resignh after McCarty requested that Crisf vetothe bill. During a news conference earlier inthe day, the governof hinted he might veto the bill.