After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

During the first full week in October, public power electric utilities across the United States join to celebrate Public Power Week. It is typically filled with events and activities that help customers and stakeholders learn about the benefits of being part of a public power community. This year, Public Power Week took on a whole new meaning as Hurricane Michael -- just 2 mph shy of a Category 5 storm -- barreled toward Florida’s Panhandle.

Now that the elections are behind us, it is time for the Legislature to address the fraud that has increasingly pushed homeowner insurance rates higher each year. Florida is the nation’s top “judicial hellhole,” according to the American Tort Reform Foundation, and Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse is playing a big role in the dysfunction.

Democrats had a good Election Day in most of the nation but, despite some close statewide races, they stumbled again in Florida and now face a major power vacuum. 

To the surprise of many following the debacle of the machine counts, the state-mandated hand counting of ballots went relatively well. By the weekend the process was completed in near-competent fashion and the races were declared over. Though he did concede in private with winner Rick Scott, departing Sen. Bill Nelson also gave a farewell video message.