Politician rounds into form before the storm

Gallows humor, with a nod to Dr. Seuss, was in style at a recent Florida House Banking and Insurance Subcommittee meeting — even with a solemn topic like protecting the state from financial catastrophe.

Rep. Bryan Nelson, R-Apopka, led the way. Nelson, right before the committee discussed bills on the state's Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and Citizens Property Insurance Corp., gave each panel member a bottle of wine, according to the News Service of Florida. The bottles, labeled Cat 2 Hurricane Red, Cat 2 Hurricane White and Cat 3 Hurricane, were from Schnebly Redland's Winery & Brewery in Redlands, near Miami.

Each wine bottle came with a note, the News Service reports, which Nelson read before the meeting.

“These bottles of wine are labeled quite scary, because one of these days Cat 2 and Cat 3 will surely be hairy,” Nelson read. “Yes Cat 2 and Cat 3 will hit our great state, and you know our exposure is greater than great. Many, many billions just wait and see, until then just enjoy your Cat 2 and Cat 3.”