Can't we all just get along?

"GOOD RIDDANCE!" WAS FLORIDA GOV. CHARLIE CRIST'S well-publicized rejoinder to State Farm's January declaration that it wants to stop writing property insurance here. "They probably charge the highest rates in the state anyway," he added. "Floridians will be much better off without them."

The insurance industry is the one dark corner in Crist's perennially optimistic mindscape. He just doesn't seem to like us very much. "Profit-hungry parasites" was one of his more disturbing descriptions during his campaign for the governor's seat. After his election, a dust-up over the expansion of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. prompted him to declare that the industry "will come up out of every crack and crevice they can contemplate to rip more money from the pockets of our people."

Compare the governor's rancorous remarks to the measured comments and expressions of concern recently voiced by other elected officials.

CFO Alex Sink: "It is unfortunate and disappointing that State Farm Florida has decided to move out of the neighborhood. My concern goes out to the more than one million Floridians who will need to transition to a new insurance company during the next two years. We will assemble a team of trained consumer specialists within my department to assist Floridians who might have questions about finding a new insurance policy."

Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Lakeland): "It sends a message that maybe the business environment in Florida is bad, very bad."

Sen. Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey): "We must stop this from happening. The Legislature has a duty to stop State Farm from dropping customers."

But while others call for reasoned debate, Crist has repeatedly said he has no interest in making a single concession to keep the insurer in the state. "No, I don't. Nope. I don't think we need them. No. I see no downside to it."

OK. Maybe we can list some.

Let's start with the State Farm Florida agents who now face job uncertainty and income losses at a time of rampant unemployment and fiscal turmoil. Then mention that for almost eight decades State Farm has been a significant corporate presence in Florida, providing thousands of jobs to residents and millions of dollars to the state economy.

To that, let's add the problems that the insurer's policyholders and ultimately all Florida residents could face. With the release of 1.2 million customers--even parceled out over a two-year time frame--there could be a flood of new customers to Citizens, where rates already are actuarially unsound, according to CFO Sink.

More growth in Citizens would adversely impact the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Citizens currently accounts for about 40 percent of the Cat Fund's exposure, and the fund is woefully--many would say dangerously--under-funded.

As this is being written, State Farm is mulling over the requirements that Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty placed in his conditional approval of the submitted withdrawal plan. In his Order, McCarty addressed the issues of State Farm moving policies directly into Citizens (not allowed) and State Farm permitting its agents to place the policies with other private insurance companies (required).

Regardless of how it finally shakes out, the larger issue is a governor who seemingly cannot work well with one of his state's critical industries--and has no inclination to even try. This is hardly encouraging to business leaders considering relocating or expanding here.

As Bob Lotane at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Florida said, "The [insurance] companies that largely rebuilt this state after the devastating 2004-2005 hurricane seasons have been reduced to political punching bags."

Crist recently promised to "continue to work to improve" Florida's insurance market.

Heaven help us.

Joan Collier

Editor