TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2013) – A new poll released today by the Stronger Safer Florida coalition concluded that 77 percent of Floridians oppose paying taxes to subsidize out-of-state Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policyholders. A vast majority of the 902 Florida voters surveyed disagree that all private insurance policyholders should pay taxes to help cover the costs of premiums for Citizens policyholders whose primary residences are located outside of Florida or the United States.

Furthermore, a majority – 58 percent – oppose the idea of paying taxes on private insurance policies to subsidize Citizens. In particular, Florida voters stated they do not agree that all private insurance policyholders should pay taxes on private insurance policies, including private property insurance, business, automobile and renters insurance, to lower the cost of Citizens premiums.

“Now is the time for Florida lawmakers to implement changes to the state-run insurance entities in order to diminish the financial risk associated with subsidized insurance,” said Dominic M. Calabro, Florida TaxWatch president and chief executive officer. “Citizens must be reformed to serve as the insurer of last resort and we encourage Florida lawmakers to look at who is eligible for this subsidized insurance as part of the needed reform.”

Earlier this month, Stronger Safer Florida also released data provided by Citizens to the American Consumer Institute that confirms nearly 180,000 Citizens policies go to consumers living in other states across the United States. The data also showed less than one-third of Citizens policies are actually billed to the same house that is insured.

“Florida voters have spoken and do not want to subsidize insurance for wealthy, out-of-state individuals who own investment and vacation property in the state,” said Steve Pociask, president of the American Consumer Institute. “With preparations beginning for the 2014 state legislative session, it would behoove the Florida Legislature to listen to hardworking Floridians, including the 77 percent that are non-Citizens policyholders, and make necessary changes to the system that ensure their constituents are no longer required to subsidize insurance for non-Floridians.”

The poll was conducted by Florida Opinion Research from Sept. 4 to Sept. 9, 2013 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.26%.

Stronger Safer Florida is a nonpartisan coalition comprised of business, consumer and environmental groups from throughout Florida. For more information, visit www.strongersaferflorida.org.

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