Though there was a lot of drama in the courthouse to reject the reforms requested for the no-fault PIP auto insurance in the state, a deal was reached by the Florida legislature on Friday night, offering sweet victory to Governor Rick Scott and also bringing to a close, the 2012 session.
While the House gave approval to the bill based on party lines, the bill was approved by the Senate around 9.20pm with a nail biting 22-17 finish. Once the deal has been reached, Governor Scott made an appearance in the Senate Chamber to offer his congratulations to the President of the Senate, Mike Haridopolos. In a statement following the deal, Governor Rick Scott said that this was a moment of triumph for all the residents in the state of Florida. He said that the legislature members had put the interest of the residents of the state ahead of all the other factors and special interests in order to curtail auto insurance fraud which had transformed into a nightmare for Florida drivers.
The win was a tough one to call. Governor Rick Scott spent a large part of Thursday and Friday hoping that the senators would see the various reforms that the House was suggesting to improve the current provisions. One of the main points during the debate raised by many senators was the number of concessions that were being made.
One of the senators, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, said that the House reforms that were sent over to the Senate for their approval was a fraud. However, another senator, Joe Negron, requested the senators to support the various reforms that were suggested by the House. He said that despite the reforms, chiropractors continue to be integral to the PIP system and the people involved in the accident had up to 14 days time frame to seek treatment. He said that it clearly implies that the deal was a win to the Senate as well.
