Boomerang - The latest capitol

Boomerang - The latest capitol "scandal" seems to be nipping at Mike Hatch as well.

It seems that, after the news media ran the story that Commerce Commissioner Glenn Wilson had agreed to a "controversial" settlement with United American Insurance company, word slipped out that Mike Hatch had worked for UAI.

The legislative auditor's office also confirmed Wednesday that it is investigating the agreement with United American, which contained clauses preventing the Commerce Department from notifying the news media, other state insurance agencies and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a national regulatory group, about the settlement.

"Our focus is on what is in the consent order that Commissioner Wilson signed, and did that comply with the department's legal obligations," Legislative Auditor James Nobles said.

And I'll be looking for that report when it comes out.

He said that the investigation of the settlement will be part of the auditing agency's regular review of the Commerce Department and that he expects to release a report within a month.

Weaver took direct aim at Hatch.

"He was the hired gun for this insurance company," Weaver said.

In 1992, Hatch defended United American, of McKinney, Texas, when it was fined $65,000 by the Commerce Department for selling unapproved policies.

More as the auditor's report comes out.

Fearless predictions for when that report sees the light of day:

• Glenn Wilson's controversial consent decree will have been written at the behest of someone in the Attorney General's Office.
• The story will have been leaked from a DFL-sympathizing civil service employee in the Commerce Department.

Just hunches.

Posted by Mitch at July 31, 2003 07:40 AM