More questionable doings in the Pawlenty (Minn) Administration

[dflprincess]

This relates back to the “heads up” post I put up last night. Go to the link, the snips just don’t do this story justice.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=50089

<snip>
A top apointee of Governor Pawlenty is being questioned for his actions early in the administration.

KARE-11 news has found an apparent secret pact made by Commissioner of Commerce Glenn Wilson and an insurance company accused of preying on seniors.

The story centers on an investigation of United American Insurance launched during the Ventura administration. The Commerce Department, then led by Jim Bernstein, filed a complaint alleging that United American agents told Minnesota seniors that Medicare was changing — in some cases even running out.

Enter a new commerce commissioner and suddenly a new agreement with United American. In this one, the company is now allowed to avoid a penalty fine. The agreement also includes a secrecy clause that is unprecedented. It says that not only will the consent order be hidden from the media — everyone agrees to conceal it from state and federal regulators including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

The order is signed by commissioner Glenn Wilson.
<end snip>

The article goes on to say that Wilson is claiming he signed the agreement on the advice of the Attorney General’s office (in other words, the old Republican “It’s not my fault” defense). The AG’s office says they told Wilson’s people to take the secrecy clause out. Given Mike Hatch’s track record with insurance companies – especially health insurance companies, who are you going to believe?

And, this case does not relate to the earlier one where the Pawlenty adminstration lowered the fine levied against another company that had contributed heavily to Pawlenty's campaign.

[acropolis]

1. I still haven't heard

why no MN democrats bothered to vote in 2002. What happened?

PS: Isn't this like scandal #6 for Pawlenty? I'm beginning to be glad I left MN.

[ButterflyBlood]

3. Pawlenty only won with 44%

it was a 3-way race.

[northernsoul]

6. 2002 was an effing disaster

no doubt about it. Here's my 2 cent analysis:

1) The DFL got caught with its pants down. For instance: Our gubernatorial candidate, Roger Moe, was an able and experienced public servant who'd certainly earned his stripes. Unfortunately, Moe had a persona that could lull a bunch of thirteen year olds jacked up on Jolt cola into a near-comatose state. We could've run an exciting and engaging personality in Judy Dutcher, but chose to reward a good old boy who we knew had no chance of winning instead.
Also, we were shattered and demoralized by the loss of Paul Wellstone and we got hammered by the well-coordinated media feeding frenzy after the memorial service. I hope that somebody at DFL HQ has done a proper analysis of this and has a plan to make sure we never get blind-sided this badly again.

2) Minnesota demographics are changing. Rapidly. Tons and tons of people moving here from the sunbelt to the outer suburbs of the Twin Cities, bringing their comfy fundy-repuke mindset with them. We've always had our fair share of wingnuts here, but the invasion of Texans and Arizonans have now given them critical mass. Also a lot of folks who made the DFL work for all these years and now aging and dying and the younger generation is less engaged in politics.

Minnesota is now no longer a garaunteed Dem state, we're gonna have to fight like hell for every victory we can get.

[dpbrown]

2. I hope this heats up

I'm so tired of Pawlenty and Awada trying to turn Minnesota into Eagan.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[northernsoul]

8. 2006 can't come soon enough

My cheerfully apolitical relatives living in outstate MN all hate his guts.
The backlash cometh.

I think we need new residency requirements for anyone moving here from the sunbelt states who earn a certain income level.

[StClone]

4. What a circus

The Hall Mark of the New ReCon Big Top. Lots of clowns, barkers, and elephants plodding pundeously through the house of cards they've built.

Minnesota... ah Minnesota why have thoust lost thy grip... first come a Wrassler... come now Pawlenty o' disastor.

[MrMonk]

5. "Pawlenty"?

Is that local for "polenta"?

On edit: "Polenta" is italian for a corn-meal mush.

[northernsoul]

7. Pawlenty of Malarkey

We've had plenty of Pawlenty already.
Enough!

[qb]

9. One thing about the Twin Cities Media

Although they're just as bad as all the rest when it comes to covering up for Dubya's crimes, they loooooove to go after the local politicians! Go KARE 11!