Crist, DeSantis differ on cost-of-living issues
Property insurance premiums spiked after eight hurricanes hit the state from 2004 to 2005. The housing market initially was booming during Crist's governorship from 2007 to 2011, driving up the cost of homes and property taxes. Electric utilities were moving to raise rates.
Crist — then a Republican, now a Democrat — ran a populist campaign pledging to hold consumer costs down. He famously said taxes would "drop like a rock," even holding up a rock at one event to illustrate his point. He also talked tough about reining in insurance companies and electric utilities.
What happened during those years — especially his record on property insurance — is now coming under scrutiny as Crist runs for governor again and
Crist has made affordability concerns the central theme of his campaign. He is accusing DeSantis of not doing enough to help consumers, and touting his own policies as governor as the better approach.
DeSantis has fired back, implying Crist's governorship led to the current property insurance woes.
Crist convened a special legislative session to address property insurance in 2007, something DeSantis also did this year. In the lead-up to the special session, Crist did something unusual for a Republican lawmaker in
"Big insurance has a new day coming," Crist said, accusing the insurers of "profiteering on the backs of Floridians at a time of need."
Prodded by Crist, lawmakers agreed to a series of reforms.
They expanded the
Crist also issued an emergency order to temporarily freeze all insurers' rates until the legislation took effect, and he later vetoed a number of property insurance bills that he said were anti-consumer.
Crist's approach did result in a decrease in home insurance premiums.
The average cost of property insurance for a home worth
Property insurance premiums have risen 11 out of the last 15 years, often by double digits. The 9.4% drop in premiums in 2008 is the largest decrease during that time period.
Yet there's a lot of debate about Crist's insurance policies.
Insurance companies and free-market proponents fiercely resisted the reforms.
Even some
"He actually destroyed the insurance marketplace," said Florida Agriculture Commissioner
Fried's comments have been echoed by many
Asked by a CNN reporter about the state's insurance woes during a recent appearance in
Yet big companies like
According to insurer rating firm AM Best,
"It's 2022, stop trying to blame Charlie for a special session he called" in 2007, said
Property insurance isn't the only pocketbook issue that Crist dealt with as governor.
A massive real estate boom led to an affordable housing crisis, which Crist responded to by cutting property taxes. That issue fell by the wayside, though, as the Great Recession set in and housing costs plummeted.
Electric utility prices also were a concern.
Power companies were gearing up to raise rates, which Crist opposed. He appointed four members to the state
All four of Crist's appointees voted to deny rate hikes for
"Charlie has always been more on the side of the consumers," Argenziano said in a recent interview. "Was he perfect? No, but he was more concerned about the consumers getting a fair shake than any Republican I ever worked with."
After voting to deny the rate hikes, all four of Crist's PSC appointees were promptly booted off the commission. The state
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