Crist: Insurance session promising | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, Fla.

MIAMI - Governor-elect Charlie Crist doesn't know all the specifics on how to solve the state's homeowners insurance problem, but expressed confidence Friday that lawmakers will be productive in a special session to address the crisis.
''I campaigned all over the state and the issue that I heard about most was the insurance issue. Bar none.

Everywhere we went that's what we heard people screaming about. I understand why. The rate increases are horrific,'' the Republican said.

It was one of several subjects the state attorney general addressed in an interview with Associated Press editors and reporters, ranging from raising teacher salaries and lowering property taxes to supporting stem cell research and paper trails for ATM-style voting machines.
But he said insurance is the top issue facing him after he becomes governor Jan. 2, saying that he may now need to put an asterisk next to his promise to sign no other bill before signing his proposed ''Anti-murder Act'' because of the Jan.

16 special session on insurance. His proposal, which would require judges to jail violent criminals who violate probation, can wait for the regular session in March.
He said he hadn't read the entire 231-page draft insurance bill prepared by Gov.

Jeb Bush's office and released Wednesday, when Crist was attending the Republican Governors Association annual conference in Doral. But he is familiar with some of the goals and favors them.
''From what I know of it, it all sounds like very good things,'' Crist said.

That includes giving homeowners the choice of accepting higher deductibles or not including windstorm in their coverage, which could be pitfalls if a catastrophic hurricane hit Florida.
''I support choices, I like freedom of choice and if a consumer wants to make that choice, they ought to be empowered to do so. Whether I would opt to do it myself is another question,'' Crist said.

''People will have a higher deductible on their auto insurance for a cost-saving measure, so why not give them the same choice here.''
Crist added that he would also like to see homeowners get credits for making their homes safer, much like safe drivers save on auto insurance.
''If you've been one of these homeowners that's been real responsible and you've hardened your home, why shouldn't you get a reduction on your rate, just like you would on your auto coverage?

'' Crist said.
Solutions to the problem will come from Bush, House and Senate leaders from both parties and his own advisers, said Crist, who beat Democrat Jim Davis last month. Another pocketbook issue he wanted to address is escalating property taxes.

He acknowledged, though, that there are inequity issues in his proposal to protect homeowners from significantly higher property taxes if they move into a new home, an idea that essentially lets them bring a cap on rates to their new house.
He said it would be ''difficult to justify to a fair-minded person'' the idea that someone moving to the state for the first time should pay significantly higher property taxes than a next-door neighbor who has benefited from the cap.
''Some of the ideas being discussed are a cap across the board, one that incorporates businesses,'' Crist said.

''I'm an optimist. I know there are ways to do it.''
As well as raising teachers' salaries, including 10 percent increases for the top 25 percent of teachers as selected by their principals, Crist also said he's open to making changes to the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

While he supports the way Bush has used the FCAT to grade schools, retain third graders who don't read well and keep seniors who can't pass it from graduating, he said he would examine whether changes can be made to make the test less stressful for students.
''I hear the same stuff you do, that it's stressful, that it's high stakes, that it needs to be a diagnostic tool,'' Crist said. ''The kind of changes that I would entertain would be ones that would not sacrifice taking a measure, having accountability.

''
He said he would consider ''ways to tweak and modify'' the way the test is administered and how teachers prepare students, as well as including other measures to determine promoting and graduating students.
On other subjects, Crist said he thought the idea of paper trails for touch-screen voting machines is a good one. The issue has been highlighted even more since the Nov.

7 election, with Democrat Christine Jennings claiming that touch-screens in Sarasota malfunctioned in the U.S. House District 13 race, possibly costing her the election to Republican Vern Buchanan.

''You go to buy gasoline or you go to your ATM machine and you get a receipt that kind of tells you what happened. It seems like a pretty good idea to me, to be able to double check it later if there's a close race,'' he said.
He also said he supports the idea of a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins, who have threatened to move out of state if they can't get government help for a proposed stadium.

The team now shares a stadium with football's Miami Dolphins.
''It's not a stretch at all to view it as economic development for our state,'' Crist said. ''I would be very unhappy if any of our teams would leave the state.

And I'll do everything I can within reason to make sure that does not happen.