Crist Urges National Leaders to Address Insurance Crisis

~~ Governor-Elect Crist Calls for Passage of Insurance Reform Legislation ~~

TALLAHASSEE — Governor-Elect Charlie Crist yesterday sent a letter to Florida Senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson, detailing his support for legislation addressing insurance rates. In addition, Governor-Elect Crist addressed a letter to Speaker-Designate Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader-Designate Harry Reid advocating for the creation of a Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance in the 110th Congress. Individual letters were addressed to Governors or Governors-Elect in every state requesting their support in a national effort to create the bipartisan commission to address preparation and response to natural disasters.

“I want to reiterate my support for the Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance Act of 2006,” said Governor-Elect Crist in the letter addressed to Senators Martinez and Nelson. “I propose that we do everything in our collective power to advance the passage of this important piece of legislation. It is critical that we find both an immediate and comprehensive solution to this pressing problem.”

SB 3114, The Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance Act of 2006, was filed by Senator Nelson earlier this year. The bill would establish the Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance, a national bipartisan panel of experts similar to the recent Baker Commission, designed to examine proposals to make insurance available and more affordable. The Commission would issue policy recommendations designed to improve the competitiveness of insurance markets. Representative Debbie Wasserman- Schultz filed a similar piece of legislation (HR 5891) in the House of Representatives.

“Providing affordable homeowners insurance will require resolve and a strong bipartisan effort,” said Crist in the letter addressed to Speaker-Designate Pelosi and Majority Leader-Designate Reid. “If Republicans and Democrats work together to bring all good ideas to the forefront, we can ensure that homeowners insurance remains an affordable protection for citizens in all fifty states.”

The letters are attached:

December 21, 2006

The Honorable Mel Martinez
United States Senate
Hart 317 Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Bill Nelson
United States Senate
Hart 716 Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators,

As we discussed several weeks ago, the availability and affordability of homeowners insurance for the citizens of Florida is one of the most critical issues facing our great state. Nothing is more on the minds of Floridians than the skyrocketing cost of property insurance. With that in mind, I wanted to reiterate my strong support for the Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance Act of 2006 filed by Senator Nelson earlier this year. I propose that we do everything in our collective power to advance the passage of this important piece of legislation. As you both know, the bill would establish the Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk, a national bipartisan panel of experts designed to examine proposals to make insurance available and affordable. The Commission would carefully examine specific proposals before Congress and make policy recommendations regarding the best course of action on this vitally important issue.

It is critical that we do everything in our power to find immediate and long-term solutions to this pressing problem. We should also recognize that making homeowners insurance available and affordable in all 50 states is going to require national bipartisan support. To that end, I have drafted a letter addressed to Speaker-Designate Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader-Designate Harry Reid. I propose that that we all work in a bipartisan manner to show our resolve in finding a solution and to encourage the incoming Congressional leadership to advance this proposal.

I look forward to working with you to ensure that the citizens of Florida have continued access to insurance coverage. It is vital that we put an end to soaring insurance premiums and protect the dreams of the Florida homeowner.

Sincerely,

Charlie Crist
Governor-Elect

* * * * *

December 21, 2006

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
United States House of Representatives
2371 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Harry Reid
United States Senate
528 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker-Designate Pelosi and Majority Leader-Designate Reid,

As Governor-Elect of the state of Florida, I am writing to urge your support of a critical piece of legislation filed earlier this year. Senate Bill 3114, introduced by Senator Bill Nelson, would address the rising national problem of affordable homeowners insurance by creating a Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance.

This Commission would function as a bipartisan task force that would examine proposals to alleviate the insurance crisis that is facing so many U.S. homeowners. It would be comprised of a national panel of experts in the field and would issue policy recommendations designed to improve the competitiveness of insurance markets, making insurance available and affordable for all consumers.

Providing affordable homeowners insurance will require resolve and a strong bipartisan effort. If Republicans and Democrats work together to bring all good ideas to the forefront, we can ensure that homeowners insurance remains an affordable protection for citizens in all fifty states.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this important issue. I urge your support of a national Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance in the 110th Congress, and I look forward to working with you to advance this vitally important cause.

Sincerely,

Charlie Crist
Governor-Elect

* * * * *

December 21, 2006

The Honorable Eliot Spitzer
Governor-Elect of New York
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor-Elect Spitzer,

As I prepare to be inaugurated as Florida’s 44th chief executive, I am writing to my fellow governors in support of a national effort to create a bipartisan commission to address our nation’s preparation and response to natural disasters. The nation has suffered a number of costly disasters in recent time. In Florida, we experienced eight major hurricanes in two years costing the state budget upwards of $37 billion dollars. Today, Floridians across our state continue the personal struggle of rebuilding their lives, businesses and communities.

I commend and strongly support the bipartisan efforts of the Florida Congressional delegation in offering comprehensive legislation to address the insurance crisis, while providing mechanisms to relieve Americans impacted by higher insurance premiums and loss of coverage. Insurance reform is desperately needed, and there are several proposals that offer valuable solutions.

Specifically, legislation offered by Florida Senator Bill Nelson (SB 3114) and Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (HR 5891) to create a bipartisan Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk is a good first step. The Commission’s purpose would be to “examine and make recommendations that will retain and attract insurance markets to serve consumers and protect taxpayers.” The Commission’s scope would also include efforts to assist the federal government in the preparation and management of earthquakes, floods, blizzards and other natural disasters and would help lessen the burden of future costs.

A concerted effort by our nation’s governors to support Congressional action in addressing the issue of homeowners insurance would be most helpful. I urge you to support the idea of a national Commission on Catastrophic Risk and Insurance in the 110th Congress, and I look forward to working with you to advance this vitally important cause.

Sincerely,

Charlie Crist
Governor-Elect