Gov. Charlie Crist suggested he'd veto an insurance deregulation bill, HB
1171, saying the industry needs regulation. Here's a Q & A at the state EOC
where Crist attended a hurricane-disaster response test:

Crist: "Well, insurance companies are important to have, particularly in a
setting that we're in right now. But I also think it's also important to have
appropriate regulation, as it relates to the insurance commissioners job to keep rates low
for the citizens of our states. That's my current view of it. And I look forward to the bill coming to me."

Q: So deregulation isn't appropriate regulation?

Crist: "It is my thought at this point in time."

Q: Are you going to veto the bill?

Crist: "It's moving in that direction."

Lots of politics over this bill. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty urged a
veto of the bill, and state Sen. Mike Bennett called for his ouster. More here
on that.

-- Marc Caputo