Today’s editorial by wRONg in the NJ regarding Copeland and Lee reached a high point: “I haven’t seen Republicans this upbeat since their own Donna Lee Williams decided not seek re-election as insurance commissioner.”
More good news. Rumors of Donna Lee hovering around the Gene gReed Insurance Commissioner campaign carry as much weight as her left thigh. Has one of the embarrasments of the GOP switched sides?
Posted by Intercourse in General
Oh great. Four years extra of the old Williams-gReed-Brown unholy trinity of:
“Hello. Delaware Insurance Department. Can I help you?”
“Yes, my insurance company won’t pay and refuses to answer any questions.”
“Sucks to be you.” ‘click’….
The entire purpose of Donna Lee Williams as a public official was to grease the skids for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware to be taken private and no longer non-profit. There’s a giant pot of dough, something like $100 million, sitting in a bank because, under the rules in force back in the day, the Blues had to keep it there in case claims exceeded income. Those rules are long gone, and it’s the fervent desire of the honchos at BC/BS to get their paws on it by getting rid of the agency’s non-profit charter. I believe the CEO’s cut, once the deed was done, was to be on the order of $15 million.
If she’s playing footsie with Reed, it probably means Reed is the new go-to guy for getting this done. Should it happen because Matt Denn decided to take a taxpayer-paid vacation (which is all the Lt. Gov. job is; if it required work, do you think Ted Blunt would be interested in the job?) instead of standing by his post, he won’t get my vote.
They did try to parachute themselves to the tune of $80 million. It was knocked down to $18 million, which ain’t chicken feed. However, the money in there belongs to Delaware citizens. I didn’t think of it, but you’re probably right that Reed is the point guy to swing the cashout, serve the term as Commissioner, then a nice little cushy no-show job at BCBS until he’s 55.
Also, what about the guys who, according to the News Journal, are bringing in $60 million every four years? Under Donna Lee, that’s a nice chunk of change. Wonder whether they treat her nice?