Half Dozen Doodads and Ditties
Getting ready for the legislative session – We have a new website! www.lisamillerassociates.com
As many of us prepare for the March 5 start of the next 60 days of debate in our state’s capitol, the list of the most important things to think about comes to mind. So many times, we get caught up in the technical debate about the issues and we forget the fundamentals of what makes the legislative process (and any process for that matter) work. One of the fundamentals of our firm’s connection with you is our proud announcement of the Lisa Miller & Associates new website. Please take a moment to review it and give us your thoughts and listed below are some doodads and ditties for those of you who I’ll see “along the legislative trail” through May.
#1-Remembering the Staff:
So often, the person who answers the phone or the scheduler knows more about the office or legislator than most. In fact, I saw an intern I met 25 years ago in the Capitol last week and she is now the deputy staff director of an important committee! She remembered something I said to her then that I still say now, “Power through it” which is most appropriate for the tough challenges that lay ahead. As one long time, legislative veteran said, “legislative staff are the unsung heroes of the legislature. They are the ones who research and draft the legislation; write the bill summaries; develop talking points for the members; attend countless meetings with department staff, lobbyists, and concerned citizens; make multiple phone calls, stay late and come in early, all because they believe that policy is better than politics and power. During the months when the legislature isn’t in session, they write extensive committee reports that are often the basis for important legislation.” For those of you who work in the capitol or are affected by its progress, please remember to show your appreciation to the staff.
#2-Clarifying the Message:
The Tallahassee Democrat’s editor Mark Hohmeister, Associate Editor, pened a recent article on insurance issues this upcoming session; to quote: “This is important stuff. It affects the budget of every homeowner. If disaster strikes, it will really affect your budget – and the budget of the entire state. But how do I get excited over reinsurance, premium-based resources, underwriting, JUA, FIGA, OIR, PIP and STOLI? (Well, actually we did perk up at that last one, thinking we were going to start talking about vodka.)” We have to continue to think of ways to clarify our message because it is a good one. I welcome your ideas on how those of us who communicate the message every day can improve and will pass those thoughts on to those talking to the media.
#3-Skunks on the Table:
Putting the “Skunks on the table” is a phrase that forces policymakers, businesses, students and any other group to have a robust, genuine examination of the things that are critical to a project or policy’s success. In the process we call government, it can be frustrating when policymakers won’t listen or they listen to folks who don’t know the real story. Once in awhile, a high power state official will put all stakeholders in a room and not let anyone leave until the “stinker” issue is resolved. Chairman Simmons of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee put all sorts of skunks on the table for over 15 hours of testimony in 4 meetings in December and January and on March 7, he will announce which of the stinkers have been resolved with the release of a committee bill that is aimed at solving (and resolving) Citizens dominance in our property insurance market. What are the stinkers in your every day work? How can they be resolved? Let’s put the “skunks on the table” and get rid of them!
#4-Where do we Fit?
This legislative session is NOT all about property or auto insurance and as a matter of fact, the single biggest insurance issue will be health insurance with Florida’s now announced expansion of Medicaid, which will add almost 2 million people. Other overarching issues this session involve:
• Ethics Reform. Holding elected officials to a higher standard by addressing a number of reported ethical concerns, including strengthening abstention and disclosure requirements for conflicts of interest and making the process surrounding financial disclosure more transparent and accountable.
• Campaign Finance and Elections Reform: The push is to stop the “slush funds” and target campaign contributions directly to candidates and reduce wait times at the polls and ensure election results are reported more quickly and accurately.
• Education Reform: The search continues to find high-quality, affordable options that will keep our higher education system responsive to our changing economy and create high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations.
• Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Reform: FRS and covers about 145,000 current and future beneficiaries. Policy analysts believe FRS is unsustainable and will require a mammoth taxpayer bailout sometime in the future. Others disagree but the debate will overshadow many of the issues near and dear to our hearts.
#5-Messaging with Maps:
Did you see the maps released this week by the Associated Industries of Florida? The below links were designed to show legislators how many of their constituents are covered by Citizens Property Insurance. The Miami Herald reported not so subtly that a majority of their legislator’s constituents get coverage from private insurers.Here are links to the interactive maps – open the map and let your cursor rest on any of the districts and you will see the legislator and citizens/non-citizens distribution.
• Senate Citizens map
• House Citizens map
#6-Recognizing the Fraud Fighters:
This week, Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) announced further arrests in its Operation Dirty Money fight to stop Worker’s Comp Fraud. They have arrested over 20 violators in this extremely successful operation where the fraud involves avoidance of Worker’s Comp Premium, which costs all of us what isn’t paid fairly. To date, they have seized approximately $3 million in assets with the majority of those assets seized since July, 1, 2012. The statewide worker’s comp task force has shut down 27 shell companies and identified $300 million in fraudulent transactions. Please see CFO Jef Atwater’s Division of Fraud website; SCROLL to the photo toward the bottom of this page to see the video of the DFS team and Broward County Sheriff’s office who are fighting fraud every day.
In closing, and speaking of recognition, March is Women’s History month and I would have thought that the Tallahassee Democrat would know 25 women more connected and stronger than me. Nonetheless, I was humbled Thursday when I received a call from the Democrat’s Dave Hodges, Business Editor, telling me I had won a slot in the 25 Women You Need to Know 2013 celebration. Only with the support of clients and friends like you does this type of recognition come to our firm.
Thank you for all you do and lets have a great 2013 session!
Lisa Miller
