[sunrico90]

He outlined some lofty goals for the next four years

Moderator cut: copyright issues

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/new...f_crist_s.html

[SunshineState]

At least "HE" (Crist) realizes there is a problem! Under Bush we had not a snowballs chance! Bush was all out "BIG" business and "BIG" profits and NOT about the people! I pray Christ can make a difference.

[Prichard]

The biggest problem is property taxes, not insurance. And, the government can do a heck of a lot about property taxes - more so that it can about insurance. Here are my thoughts:

1. Lower the millage rates - lower rates mean lower taxes;
2. Give a tax credit for the amount of property insurance a person pays. In other words, if my tax bill is $6,000 and my Insurance bill is $2,000 - then make my tax bill $4,000. I can live with that.

This isn't rocket science! Moderator cut: cut

[sunrico90]

I'll check for his property taxes plan, here is part of his plan...

Bills filed already include plans, backed by Crist during the campaign, to to expand the homestead exemption to $50,000, and another forcing insurers to sell in Florida whatever kind of insurance they sell in other states. That's designed to keep insurers from cherry-picking the services they provide here.

Both of those bills are aimed to help the average homeowner. But Brevard and Orange County Representative Bob Allen says all types of landowners are being squeezed by the increasing costs.

[Prichard]

Raising the homestead exemption to $50,000 is total garbage! Maybe that would have meant someting 15 years ago, but it's not addressing the bigger problems with commercial and investment properties being taxed to the point that economies are mucked up beyond all recognition.

[MrTudo]

Someone in another thread says that Christ has never owned a home. Does anyone know if this is a fact or not?

[tallrick]

Tax based on the purchase price, and only increase it at the rate of inflation. Make the homestead exemption 50% of value, lower millage rates on business to reflect actual incomes of the business. Let the market fix the insurance crisis. Fix the property tax problem and then we can have the time to think of how to fix the insurance problems.

[SunshineState]

Originally Posted by Prichard

The biggest problem is property taxes, not insurance. And, the government can do a heck of a lot about property taxes - more so that it can about insurance. Here are my thoughts:

1. Lower the millage rates - lower rates mean lower taxes;
2. Give a tax credit for the amount of property insurance a person pays. In other words, if my tax bill is $6,000 and my Insurance bill is $2,000 - then make my tax bill $4,000. I can live with that.

This isn't rocket science! Just testicular fortitude.

If the biggest problem is property taxes why are they holding a special session on insurance? In our area and at least the two surrounding counties it's definatly homeowners insurance that is the number one issue. My HOI is double what my property taxes, my parents HOI is almost 4xs as much and my brothers is also almost 4xs as much. Every newspaper across the state also says that homeowners insurance is Florida's number 1 problem.

[Edvard]

I see Crist just turned down a bribe by the insurance lobby.

[pianogal]

Our State Farm insurance agent had the nerve to tell us this week that rates were not high enough. His words.."I don't agree with what Crist is doing. It's never going to work, from a business perspective rates need to go up, not down."