Mayor Dan Sullivan – How Low Can He Go?
[Don't miss Anchorage Assembly Member Harriet Drummond on The Shannyn Moore Show HERE or on 1080am in Anchorage. She'll be Shannyn's guest in the 11:00 hour Alaska time, Noon Pacific, 3pm Eastern]
He’s back in the news again, our mayor is. It’s like an ongoing reality show, and every day’s a new episode.
Mayor Dan Sullivan has signed a check that empties almost $200,000 from the coffers of his supposedly financially beleaguered city. That check will go to the beneficiaries of his father, former Mayor George Sullivan’s life insurance policy. Dan Sullivan is the trustee of this tidy sum. This “life insurance policy” isn’t really a life insurance policy at all though, and the contract that is claimed to exist by the mayor’s office, may or may not exist. And the mayor may or may not be a beneficiary of this trust. We have not seen a contract, and the mayor will not tell us who is getting the money. Is it him? We don’t know. His daughter? Not sure. His wife? His siblings? We can only guess.
Does this supposed “contract” actually exist? The Assembly thought so when they voted to release this money, but nobody seems to be able to produce it. And if it does exist, does the Assembly even have the legal authority to pay the claim to the Mayor’s family? The Municipality of Anchorage, after all, is not an insurance company. And what about the legality of entering into this “contract” with a former mayor who was no longer in office at the time, and therefore not a municipal employee? And what makes former Mayor George Sullivan so special anyway?
Dan Sullivan tells us that his father has “literally given his heart” to the city.
Yes, the late Mayor Sullivan devoted himself to public service, but what about the many others in our community who have done the same? What about those who have served as Anchorage Police officers, Anchorage Firefighters, and other municipal employees? Some of them risk their lives every day for the safety of others. Many have actually given their lives protecting us. What about those who have served for decades doing hazardous duty? What do they get? The answer is that they are compensated for their service, and when they leave municipal employment, they do not get an ongoing life insurance policy.
And the current mayor, in this fiscal environment where municipal workers are losing their jobs, and public services have been cut, is nevertheless perfectly comfortable writing his own family a check for $193,000.
Keep in mind that in 1982, $193,000 was an enormous sum of money, comparable to half a million or more today. And how do we explain the fact that the premium went DOWN from just over $1,000 a year to about $550 a year? When was the last time your life insurance premiums went down? Dan Sullivan and his family paid less than $20,000 over twenty eight years for a payout of almost 10 times that amount. “We wouldn’t even be having this conversation today if someone had done this right in 1982,” said Assembly Member Harriet Drummond.
And when she proposed a resolution yesterday to be read at the Assembly meeting of March 23, which asks that serious legal questions about this situation be addressed, what does he say? He says this:
It’s unfortunate that Ms. Drummond is playing politics with the death of my father. For 28 years, in good faith, we made payments to meet the obligation of this contract. Five administrations have had no problem with this.
Oh, yes. He went there.
One wonders if this policy had belonged to a certain former Congressman Nick Begich, and the trustee of the “policy” was the previous Mayor Mark Begich, would Dan Sullivan be galloping to his defense accusing Ms. Drummond of “playing politics with the de ath of his father?” Think about that long and hard, because if the answer to this question is “no,” then the obvious conclusion is that Dan Sullivan is doing that very thing himself.
And as far as meeting “the obligation of this contract” we say…. What contract? May we see it, please? Show us the contract.
Finally, I’m going to hazard a guess that the reason these other administrations didn’t have a problem with it is because they didn’t know about it. And none of them had to write a check for $193,000 that tipped them off.
Here is Drummond’s resolution that will be read to the Assembly on March 23. We should all be thanking her for standing up and asking the tough questions.
Submitted by: ASSEMBLY MEMBER Drummond
For reading: March 23, 2010
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
AR NO. 2010–91A RESOLUTION OF THE ANCHORAGE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY TO AUTHORIZE ENGAGING THE SERVICES OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW AND REPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY ON THE LEGAL AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, IF ANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE ASSEMBLY, IF ANY, REGARDING PAYMENT OF $193,000 IN MUNICIPAL FUNDS TO THE GEORGE M. SULLIVAN IRREVOCABLE LIFE INSURANCE TRUST, AND PROVIDING FOR AN APPROPRIATION.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Assembly Memorandum No. AM 76-2010, the Assembly was requested by and on behalf of the Mayor to appropriate One Hundred Ninety Three Thousand Dollars ($193,000.00) from the Areawide General Fund (Fund 101) for disbursement to the George M. Sullivan Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Memorandum No. AM 76-2010 declared that disbursement would be made under a life insurance contract; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Memorandum No. AM 76-2010 did not disclose that the George M. Sullivan Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust was administered by the Mayor in his private capacity as the son of George M. Sullivan and Trustee of the life insurance trust; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Memorandum No. AM 76-2010 did not disclose that no life insurance policy was in place and no written life insurance contract existed; and
WHEREAS, AR 2010-33 was passed and approved by the Assembly, on February 16, 2010, authorizing disbursement subject to receipt of proper documentation from the George M. Sullivan Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust; and
WHEREAS, the full circumstances purporting to legally obligate the Municipality to make a payout of $193,000.00 in public funds are more complicated than provided in the summary under AM 76-2010; and
WHEREAS, the payout of $193,000.00 in public funds for life insurance without a life insurance policy in place has raised many concerns in the mind of the public and one or more Assembly Members, including these questions:
· What is the legal basis for asserting the existence of a life insurance policy or contract?
· What is the legal basis for asserting a contractual obligation in the absence of a written contract?
· What is the legal authority of the Salary and Emoluments Commission to authorize an employee benefit after employment has terminated?
· Were the legal requirements, procedures and process under Charter Section 5.08 (c) properly followed?
· What, if any, is the extent of a municipal obligation to make payment of $193,000 in life insurance without a life insurance policy?
· What is the current Assembly’s authority to approve or disapprove a life insurance payment in the absence of a life insurance policy?
· Is this disbursement recognized in the FY 2010 General Government Operating Budget?
· What process should be used under the Ethics Code to ensure that an elected public official does not sit on both sides of a municipal transaction?
· Under what public purpose are public funds being disbursed as life insurance? and
WHEREAS, the current Mayor is also actively serving as Trustee of the George M. Sullivan Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, creating a situation in which he serves on both sides of a significant financial transaction involving public funds; and
WHEREAS, as Mayor, the incumbent is required to represent and act in the Municipality’s best interests; and
WHEREAS, as Trustee of the George M. Sullivan Life Insurance Trust, the Trustee has a fiduciary duty to the Trust to represent and act in the best interests of the Trust and its beneficiaries;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Anchorage Assembly resolves:
1. Because the events surrounding the creation and administration of a special benefit for the Honorable George M. Sullivan occurred after he was no longer in office and over the course of several mayoral successions without a full and public review before the Assembly, the Assembly authorizes an independent legal review to include the following:
· The authority of the Salary and Emoluments Commission, after the mayor or other elected official has left elected office, to authorize a special life insurance benefit;
· Whether a special life insurance benefit was legally effectuated for George M. Sullivan, when, and by whom or under what actions;
· The legal obligations and risks to the Municipality concerning the special life insurance benefit (prior to payment);
· The authority of the Mayor to request an appropriation when the Mayor also currently serves as Trustee of the George M. Sullivan Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, without disclosure of the potential for conflict of interest;
· The public purpose under which disbursement of public funds is allowed as life insurance proceeds, without a fair market life insurance policy or premium payments.
· The authority of the Anchorage Assembly to approve an appropriation of public funds for this purpose.
2. The services of independent legal counsel shall be selected by the Internal Auditor, the Municipal Clerk and Assembly Counsel under a small procurement contract not to exceed [$5,000 – $10,000], and an appropriation of [$ 10,000] for this purpose is approved.
3. Until the Assembly is assured by independent legal counsel that payment of $193,000.00 in public funds is legally appropriate, the Mayor, in his private capacity as Trustee for the George M. Sullivan Irrevocable Trust, is respectfully requested to return any funds disbursed under AR 2010-33 to a special account to be held by the Municipality.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the Anchorage Assembly this ______day of ____________, 2010.
______________________________
Chair
ATTEST:
____________________________
Municipal Clerk
“I would have questioned this and voted the same way if it had been the Begich Trust, the Knowles Trust, or the Wuerch Trust. It’s that simple,” said Drummond, who expressed her concern about any mayor being on both ends of a significan financial transaction.
Assemblyman Matt Claman will also be introducing a resolution that will send this whole convoluted mess to the Ethics Commission. So, stay tuned, settle in and pop the corn. There is more to come.
I still say Danny boy has that reptilian look just like this fella…
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T3-T6ewXLYk/SozWtRaW4xI/AAAAAAAAAxI/xOwPMVQ_aHc/s320/tom_delay_mugshot.jpg
Wow! That guy has some grande huevos, as my old boyfriend would say. And I thought Palin was a grifter.
Re: #1—austintx
Yeah, Tom DeLay’s Alaskan protege’ must be a “10″ on the smug “you-can’t-get-me” 10-point scale. It will be delicious to watch him unravel when the Anchorage legal eagles tear into him, just like what happened to Tom DeLay! It’s gonna be a bumpy ride, and won’t it be fun!
I cannot believe this is in any way legal, even if your Mayor produces the “contract.” I believe, having worked once upon a time for an insurance consulting firm, that only an insurance company can provide a policy.
How Low Can He Go?”
Not as low as Palin!
Palin uses her “DS Baby” and other kids and then complains if you make a comment about them and the rest of the Wasilla HillBilliy Grifters.
I wonder if a “contract” will show up. I bet the former administration has some good templates….
I would think the city would be worried about being sued by other employees who were not given equal treatment, or perhaps by those laid-off due to the direct involvement Dan Sullivan had in a) not applying for full funding of the annual budget, b) deciding to allocate funds to himself rather than cutting their positions, and c) anyone who suffers harm due to the city not having proper safety services because of this chain of events.
There are some seriously complex liability issues to be considered here alongside the obvious conflicts of interest.
What I wouldn’t give for a picture of Dan Sullivan riding a Zamboni right now!
There are a few items missing from the resolution, namely, what was the procedure for reducing the premium by half? When was the done, by whom and how was that transmitted to Sullivan? When did Anchorage determine that no policy had been issued by any insurance company?
Who was/were the insurance rep(s) handling sales for Anchorage for the insurance company since the purported issuance of the life insurance policy? What is that person(s) recollection/written records of events?
Good point, BigSlick… does AK have a 14th Amendment equivalent?
Another jolt from Alaska, always something.
jolt from the dolt?
10 sauerkraut Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 7:32 AM
jolt from the dolt?
****************************haha-take your pick, Alaska is ripe for them.
Do you have a Insurance Regulation Board in Alaska? All insurers must be registered with that department in order to sell insurance policies in your state. Get their opinion on the legality of this “so called policy”. Danny boy probibly plans on a policy like this for himself at reduced premiums.
Up for some poor poetry, windy? Let’s try some variations of rhymes using jolt, dolt, bolt, molt, colt, etc…
dangerous dan, he’s quite the dolt
steals from the city,
he needs to bolt.
disassembles rescue services, that’s a jolt
stick him in his bar,
drown him in colt.
meh.
Yeah Harriet!! Way to clean up a mess.
I would think that a huge gathering would be in order to show Harriet support for her resolution and to send danny boy a message he can’t miss!
I hope our friends at the IRS are keeping an eye on what’s going on and take their big bite of tax consequences !
I do hope this gets out to the national media outlets.
Perhaps all citizens can send monthly checks for whatever amount they wish to pay to their City Hall and get a 10X investment payout. Let’s all bypass the need for an insurance policy all together!
Sullivan = C.O.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N.
Maybe Alaskans for Truth, should regroup. Hint Hint.
Mayor Dan Sullivan and beneficiary (private citizen) Dan Sullivan agree that the city should hand $ 200K to Dan Sullivan. LOL
The guy has no shame!
I too worked for the Muni and longer than George Sullivan. Where’s my $193000. But wait, I was a union guy so I probably don’t deserve even my pension the way D Sullivan thinks.
Go Hariet Drummond.
Thank goodness there are people with the clarity to stand up for what’s right as well as the courage to oppose corruption.
Kudos to Ms. Drummond for submitting her resolution asking the tough questions.
Kudos to Mr. Claman for suggesting the Ethics Commission be involved.
Kudos to Shannyn Moore for continuing to speak truth to power and helping people to see for themselves what’s happening behind closed doors.
Honestly: think of the mess we’d all be in without outstanding people such as these.
Sullied Sully better pull a contract out of his a$$, otherwise that money shouldn’t go anywhere.
Just a small correction: Shannyn’s show starts at 3PM EST, not 2PM EST.
Got it. Thanks! AKM
BigSlick Says@6
It appears that Sullivan cut services from the budget in order to make room for his payout. Should he be given credit for being a “Fiscal Conservative”?
Finally……yipeee!!
And MORE good news from… drum-roll……the Washington Post,:
Todd Palin has surprising tie to Venezuela-owned oil company
Mystik Lubricants was a sponsor of the Davis-Palin team
By Garance Franke-Ruta
As a vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin condemned Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez as a “dictator” and called for “energy independence … to allow us to be less and less reliant on someone like Hugo Chavez.”
Venezuela, one of the top suppliers of oil to the United States, “wanted to use energy sources as a weapon” under Chavez, she said.
But Palin’s anti-Venezuela sentiments do not appear to extend to her husband, whose snowmobile racing team was sponsored by a division of Citgo, the retail arm of Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/todd-palins-iron-dog-team-spon.html
sheesh…..whadda putz!!!
This part is for you MarthaunAlaska, they even included the video so WaPo has Chas St. George with more than a little egg on his face!:
After the race ended, Sarah Palin went on to appear in a video spot for the Iditarod sled-dog race standing in front of a snowmobile bearing the Mystik logo.
“She did it as basically a little promotional for the race,” said Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George. The Mystik-logo snowmobile was in the shot, he said, “because her husband is an Iron Dog participant and she loves both of those sports and she refers to both of those sports.”
Palin was not paid by the Iditarod organizers to do the promotion, St. George said.
Chavez has also been a critic of Palin’s, dismissing her in 2008 as “a beauty queen that they’ve pulled out to be a figurehead.”
Questions about Todd Palin’s Iron Dog sponsor were first raised last week on Alaska blogs.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/todd-palins-iron-dog-team-spon.html
@ BigSlick (#6):
Perhaps this is Dan the Man’s ride
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14644822
Why are there so many crooks and liars in Alaskan politics?
DD
I see that the current City Attorney has more on his plate. From the ADN this morning: Payment for software contract stirs up some controversy
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/09/1176252/payment-for-software-contract.html
Someone at the City seems to have the job of digging for dirt that can be used against the former administration but not against previous ones. It is time to get on with running this city and stop trying to blame everyone. Things have not been perfect and never will so correct those that can be fixed and move on.
Sullivan seems like another sufferer of the entitlement curse. That he could just brush aside the complexity of this issue and take the money, while accusing the previous administration of fiscal irresponsibility, is blatant hypocrisy.
I am the trustee of an Irrevocable Trust. While the family member was alive, the trust was designated as the insurance policy beneficiary, requiring official paperwork. Upon the death of the family member, I, as trustee, had to submit the more paperwork to the insurance company, including a death certificate.
Have we even SEEN a copy of the Sullivan Trust? Is Dan the trustee? If so, what are his enumerated powers? If there is a trust, when was it created? If it was created AFTER the alleged policy was agreed to, where is the paperwork changing the beneficiary? If there is no policy on record, then this “transaction” never officially occurred. MY insurance company certainly wouldn’t just give me $200K because i thought we had an agreement.
Show us the paperwork or give back the money!!
I second the comments at 6, 7, & 12.
The investigator should also be tasked with finding out exactly what Dan Sullivan (and the rest of the family) knew about this and when, both as payor of the payments and as mayor. How does that square with his statement that “For 28 years, in good faith, we made payments to meet the obligation of this contract.”? Why didn’t they know something was up in 1995, when the “premium” amount changed, or certainly in 2002, when puzzled staff questioned the payment? Why didn’t they pull the plug on this hokey arrangement then?
As for “Five administrations have had no problem with this.” that’s like saying “but we’ve always done it this way” even when it doesn’t make sense (and may never have made sense). I’m betting with AKM, that with the exception of Wuerch, they didn’t even know.
Thanks, Ms. Drummond, for caring about and standing up for what is right.
Regarding 28 years of payments: What kind of life insurance was this alleged policy? If it was a term policy, there is a definite time frame during which payment will be made – say 20 years. If it was whole life, they should have finished paying the premiums by now.
Poor Alaska, you’ve really got to start paying attention to politics. You have an unusually corrupt bunch of politicians you don’t deserve.
I gave Sullivan’s office a call to let him know how courageous I thought he was for taking $193,000 from the city of Anchorage. The unfortunate woman who took my call could only sputter “There was a reason for it, ma’am!”
There has to be some kind of award for Sullivan for this selfless behavior.
nice work karen marie!
they all justified it in their pretty little heads and now they can’t understand why no one else sees their logic.
dan is the chosen one, their leader – he’s mayor because god wants him to be. anyone that questions that won’t be part of the rapture.
has anyone asked jerry prevo what he thinks about this, morally – ethically? since he’s the one that put dan’s “dream team” together.
take a long hard look at all the appointments he’s made – backgrounds and resumes are online… veddy interesting.
(snark)
I’m thinking that ” Sullied” thinks that eventually all of this will blow over if he keeps his mouth shut.( IS He that naive..or stupid ?) After all all he has those other Assembly Members wrapped around his finger and are watching his back.
But good GAWD…. he has 3 more years left to go…….The City better find a way to remove him NOW. He will get worse.
As I mentioned before….I think it’s time for a new ” Button Campaign ” ala
” Where’s Sarah ” style…. THAT was popular with the Residents.
And that would make sure it NEVER goes away.
Put Sullie’s Mug shot pic on a button with a slogan.
” I’ve Been SULLIED ”
” It Takes a THIEF ”
” Where’s the MONEY?”
” Show Me the Money !”……Pick your Favorite.
Even a simple paper stick-on Button could be printed off any PC with those label-maker programs. I would make a BIG one and slap it on the back of his car.
The contract is in the same drawer as T**g’s birth certificate.
This is a terrific story. It seems lately that what is coming out on the blogs is hard news, not fluff and this is a great example.
It’s short, sweet and provable, and it’s all tied together with a pretty ribbon with AKM etched on it.
Very very nicely done. It is this type of info that will eventually bring these people down.
Call the cops!
There’s a burglar pretending to be the city Mayor.
#
40
A Fan From Chicago Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 12:33 PM
The contract is in the same drawer as T**g’s birth certificate.
***********************************************************************
LOL. snap
This stinks to high heaven. I sure hope this resolution passes.
“How Low Can He Go?”
All the way to the flo’.
Boom chick chick……..spang!
Do it, Harriet!
Dan could take the money, lay-off another whole layer if muni employees and cut other services and resign saying he’d simply be a lame duck Mayor.
He literally gave his heart to Anchorage? Is that like the world literally being Palin’s oyster?
It must be nice to feel you have absolute power and a sense if entitlement as conservative, Caucasian road system Alaskans.
This is what you call putting the fox in the hen house. Its a win win for this guy. Shame on him.
“Five administrations have had no problem with this.”
Okay, you got away with it because 5 administrations had other bigger issues to deal with and overlooked it. Congratulations.
Now try and use that same excuse with the IRS.
“I know I haven’t paid my taxes in 20 years but nobody said anything before!”
Good luck with that…
So, basically, does it all boil down to: There’s nothing left in the coffers to fund what the citizens of Anchorage (and visitors to the fair city) need, because $193K of the city’s money has been Sullied? beth.
I really do not understand why Mr. Sullivan continues to be both the mayor and the trustee for his father’s trust. He should have simply stepped down as trustee and let a successor trustee take over the issue of “life insurance” with the municipality. He has a conflict whether or not he is a beneficiary, and it should be obvious to him. Yet, the trustee/Mayor/maybe-beneficiary says, as quoted in the Anchorage Daily News, “It was simply honoring a contractual agreement . . . Coincidentally the fact that I’m mayor and this was with my father the former mayor is really irrelevant to it, because certainly no actions taken by this administration either led to that contract or to the obligation to fulfill its terms and requirements.” He also said, amazingly, “As trustee, my fiduciary obligation is to the trust.” Yup. Conflicts with some other obligations he has as mayor. That is why its a conflict of interest. Under the ethics law, there shouldn’t even be “the danger of a conflict of interest” much less an actual conflict of interest.
Someone other than the trustee/Mayor/maybe-beneficiary should decide if it was indeed a contractual agreement that should be honored. And somebody besides the trustee/Mayor should seek, sign and receive such an irregular payment, if it is to be made. Seriously. But today the Anchorage Daily News reports the trustee/maybe-beneficiary already spent the money, “The funds have been disbursed … it would be violating my fiduciary responsibility to disburse it in any other means other than what is outlined in the trust.” Maybe the Mayor will pay it back, since the trustee/maybe-beneficiary isn’t going to do it.
The Mayor is also wrong that it should not be public information whether he is a beneficiary:
Alaska Statute 36.50.010
(b) The people of the State of Alaska declare that
(1) public office is a public trust that should be free from the danger of conflict of interest;
(2) the public has a right to know of the financial and business interests of persons who seek or hold public office;
(3) a compelling state interest requires that candidates for office and office holders disclose their personal and business financial interests;
(4) reasonable disclosure requirements do not violate an individual’s right to privacy when the individual seeks or holds public office and a compelling state interest in the disclosure exists; and
(5) reasonable disclosure requirements do not have the effect of chilling the exercise of the right of a qualified person to seek or hold public office.
More on ADN this evening:
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/10/1177381/sullivan-insurance-deal-draws.html this is as of 5:19 PM
This is sort of a tie-in with what people need to do to get involved to make sure politicians like Sully are held accountable when they cross the line.
If you stay silent and don’t get involved… they win.
AKM is promoting that all the time.
I heard this caller call in on Shanyn’s Show today.
Jay called in. He heard about these new ” Coffee Party ” Chapters that were popping up. He liked what they stood for and their objectives. He checked them out and said there was a chapter in Anchorage but he lives in Wasilla so he decided to start one of his own there. ( in Wasilla ) Not sure how many Members that think like HIM in Wasilla though. Nice to get together with some friends who think alike… like her on Mudflats.
He said their first meeting was going to be at 10:00am Saturday morning at the Metro Cafe on Lucille. ( Hope that makes sense) If we have some local MudPuppies in that area… you might check it out. Not sure how they were going to advertise or get the word out to people. Maybe he left info with Shannyn.
AKM might even post a little note that would promote their schedule or tell people where to go to get info on their meetings. ( if she knows )
As per my earlier post about a local “Coffee Party ” in Wasilla…..
I didn’t find one there posted. But there is one in Anchorage planned .. and AKM Knows about it… just saying.
Meetup at Cafe del Mundo, 341 Benson Blvd., Anchorage, 7-9 p.m. Saturday, March 13.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Join-the-Coffee-Party-Movement-in-Anchorage-AK/324395463850
This is why the Tea Party and their grifting queen (and assorted elected slicksters) do not trust ‘government.’ When you are an elected part of ‘government’ and a grifting crook, YOU know first hand that there are others serving in offices that should not be trusted, ergo the mantra, ‘don’t trust the government.’ Most are innocent, but far too many are guilty grifters.
It is amazing when the lying liars who lie actually reveal truth using conscientious stupidity and arrogant ignorance while collecting other peoples’ money. It is grifting on steroids to the detriment of those who continue to support them against their own best interests.
Question: Was the extra auditing by the Sullied One initiated because he thought (could have thought) that former mayor (current senator) Mark Begich could be implicated somehow with this slick grifting abuse of the unsuspecting citizens of Anchorage? What was Sullivan looking for?
Folks, those of us who are still proud to be Alaskan (politics notwithstanding) offer exhibit A: Harriet Drummond.
Thank you, Harriet.
It’s very strange. In 1992 my friend/coworker had to leave work due to AIDs. Docs only gave him 3-4 months to live. Turned out that COBRA kept his policies intact, sure he had to pay the addl 2% Admin costs for healthcare insurance.
He lived for another 6 YEARS instead. His life insurance policy out of Hartford was for $51,000, payment required every 3 months (quarterly) was $343. Never once changed in all those years. Heck, I paid it myself for him, so I know.
I was a partial beneficiary. My friend was so proud that he had something good to leave for his friends. I never EVER saw a change in the amount to be paid all those years, not by a cent. But, according to the COBRA if my life insurance paymt check didn’t arrive by the needed date or might ‘bounce’ the policy was a moot point – GONE!
When he died, the policy was paid about 4 months later. Hartford also paid interest IIRC about $425 in interest (the only part which I had to pay tax on).
It seems like Sullivan/Anchorage is trying to play this like some COBRA gig, which it’s clearly not.
This whole scam seems smarmy! The Assembly should have asked questions, not merely shoveling the money out. Now, even IF they could get the money back while it’s all in dispute, they’ve lost some big time interest or having to go through years of court trials. That Assembly (minus Ms. Drummond who tried to add some accountability), seriously need to be investigated for collaboration of fraud.
Opps!
“sure he had to pay the addl 2% Admin costs for healthcare insurance. ”
meant to say 2% Admin, IN ADDITION to all costs the company was paying for his healthcare & dental insurance.
A court can not enforce an illegal contract. So we ask who did an illegal contract get form in 1982. Well, just look what the board did… approve the payment 9-1, without knowing the details of why the payment was being made. So one can easily assume they were as blind and stupid back in 1982.
And Dan Sullivan is a fool, who should be hiring an attorney real soon. On the one hand he claims there is a contract, that he hasn’t furnish any proof of. On another hand he is claiming the contract is gratuitous in nature. Oh please, how can such an idiot and crook be Mayor?
Alaskan’s truly need to stop electing the stupidest people in the State.