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Legislation being touted as a fix for Florida’s insurance industry is being questioned by some state lawmakers. Insurance lobbyists say companies can’t afford to write new policies in Florida unless the state legislature ends discount programs for people who storm proof their homes and allows insurers to raise rates up to 10 percent a year without state approval. State Senator Mike Fasano says the industry is bluffing.

“The bottom line is they want to charge more. Well the people in my district and throughout the state can’t afford anymore. They’re paying the increases that they’ve seen over the past five, six, seven years and you’ve got people now losing their homes because not only their mortgage but they can’t afford their home owners insurance,” said Fasano.

Similar legislation to deregulate the industry was vetoed by Former Governor Charlie Crist the past two years in a row. Tallahassee insiders believe with Crist gone this could be the year for insurance reform.