Declarations

Declarations

Inquiring minds want to know

“The lack of public information in this case is unacceptable to the governor.”

Brad Anderson, spokesman for Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. Culver and state lawmakers questioned why the Iowa Insurance Division fined Conseco Life Insurance Co. of Carmel, Ind., $750,000, but didn’t make public the reasons for the penalty. The insurance division said it investigated allegations that Conseco violated state laws or insurance regulations. The Associated Press reported that Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss subsequently agreed to discuss the March 21 agreement with the insurer with a joint committee of House and Senate lawmakers on April 10. In a letter posted on the division’s Web site (www.iid.state.ia.us/docs/consecoclassaction.pdf) dated March 1 and received by the insurance commissioner on March 14, Conseco said “the case involves a change Conseco Life made in its computation of cost of insurance charges for certain universal life insurance polices.” Lawyers have estimated that some 1,000 Iowa policyholders could receive a portion of the settlement, according to the AP.

That’s right, it’s not baking soda

“We tested it with our equipment and also with a narcotics test kit from the police department. Tested it for meth, cocaine and heroin and we did get a positive on a narcotic.”

Brian O’Keefe, spokesman for the Des Moines, Iowa, Fire Department, after a suspicious powder was found in small plastic bag in a men’s restroom at the insurance company, ING. O’Keefe declined to identity the powder, but The Associated Press reported the police had determined it was an illegal drug. No one came forward to reclaim it, O’Keefe said.