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White House Contradicts State of Florida on Obamacare Rate Increases

"The White House has fired back at state officials' claims that health insurance premiums under the [ACA] will jump significantly next year, insisting that instead, the majority of Florida policyholders would see decreases in what they will pay. An analysis by [HHS] ... said the cost of a mid-level 'silver' plan, the type of policy purchased by 73 percent of Floridians participating in the new health care program, would drop 3 percent in Hillsborough County and 8 percent in Pinellas. That differs from information released ... by the [Florida] Office of Insurance Regulation, which said premiums would rise an average of 13.2 percent next year."

Florida's ACA Future Is Bleak, Starting in 2017

"In two years, the ACA's structural problems will lead to substantial premium increases. Once that happens, Floridians will likely leave the insurance market in droves. They'll have little choice -- they won't be able to afford health insurance because federal subsidies won't keep up with the rapid price increases. Within a decade, this could swell the ranks of the state's uninsured by 45 percent.... But why won't this happen until 2017? Because that's the year when the [ACA] goes into full effect and certain temporary provisions begin to sunset. The changes will affect all plans sold for 2017 and beyond."

Florida Employer Wins Exemption from Contraception Mandate on Religious Grounds

"U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich issued a 37-page decision ... declaring corporations do have First Amendment freedom of religion protections.... The judge also provided an alternative, writing that corporations, even if they don't have such rights, can assert the religious freedom rights of their owners.... The case is the first of its kind in Florida -- or any of the three states covered by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals -- involving a profit-making entity[.]"

Florida Teachers Due Retirement Reform

Excerpt: All Florida school districts must change their tax-deferred retirement plans by Jan. 1. That requirement created a window of opportunity to solve a longstanding problem and ensure that teachers get a far better deal on retirement funds than they are currently getting.

Florida's Government Should Rethink Its Generous Pay and Benefits

Excerpt: The Legislature, still talking about cutting taxes, is ignoring a related issue. The salaries and benefits of many government workers are far too generous. Elected officials at the state and local levels won't bring public compensation into line with private-sector pay for two reasons. First, the employees and their unions exert heavy pressure during campaigns, and second, the politicians have cut themselves a big slice of the same pie.