Mike Hatch, American Bankers and

Mike Hatch, American Bankers and the Twin Cities Media - Today, I kick off a five-part series on the American Bankers Insurance story.

You may remember the story; last March, the local media carried the story that new Commerce commissioner Glen Wilson had reduced the amount charged American Bankers Insurance compared with the fine the previous Commissioner, Jim Bernstein, had negotiated - after details of a $10,000 check from American Bankers to the Republican Party "surfaced". Some took this as evidence of a quid pro quo.

But the story's not that simple.

The story will run in five parts between now and Wednesday, July 2.

Today - the introduction and background to the story.