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Pegasus
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According to an e-mail circulated at North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance ("WSI") last week, WSI CEO Bruce Furness has admitted to presiding over a secret WSI board meeting conducted in violation of North Dakota's open meetings law on May 21, 2008, at the East 40 restaurant, in Bismarck. Here's a clip from Mr. Furness's e-mail:
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Can't believe that email How can you admit to having a 'working dinner' and at the same time use words like 'inadvertent' and 'unfounded'? I for one, am sick sick SICK of the arrogance. And the lame spin. Furness must think WSI employees and the public are morons to put out an email like that. We deserve better is right. |
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Get A Grip and Get A Job Chad
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Corruption? Sexy but not so factsy a line ... corruption noun 1. lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain [syn: corruptness] [ant: incorruption] 2. in a state of progressive putrefaction [syn: putrescence] 3. decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation) 4. moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity"; "Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction" 5. destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity; "corruption of a minor"; "the big city's subversion of rural innocence" 6. inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony); "he was held on charges of corruption and racketeering" WordNet 3.0, 2006 by Princeton University. "If he doesn't know about the violations of law and/or the corruption that's gone on in the past, he is certain to repeat it." What corruption Chad? The courts and state's attorney found everything clean and the supposed violations of the auditors office were institutional practices for years not crimes. You run a fast hand and employ loose journalistic ethics. In reality, your one-sided hate, demented psychosis, and unhealthy obsession with WSI are the only corruption here. |
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Mr. Ford
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To Get A Grip and Get A Job Chad You pretty much covered WSI, and the executives with your dictionary explanation there. Thanks! Oh, and thanks for the negative vote I appreciate them! |
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Pegasus
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Get a Grip What courts have found everything clean? That's one of the issues with bloggers here. That nothing has really been investigated thoroughly and impartially and no courts have heard anything. Unless you're referring to Blunt and Leingang's mistake in law dismissal of charges. Aren't we still waiting for the Supreme Court decision on the other charges? |
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Big Jake
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... WSI falls under all 6 definitions of corruption. As to Chet's obsession, I would suggest that Grip needs to read the blogs more carefully and with just a little bit of objectivity. Where in the hell do you find hate or obsession or psychosis? To suggest or demand that integrity and honest government be restored is far above the silly accusations. As far as I know, no investigation has yet take place. The AG has used stall tactics to avoid any real investigation. I would suggest that the AG and Hoeven are relying on the Supreme Court to give the whole mess a political decision and pull the plug. It would seem a stretch for them to do that when you read the statute and the Wefald ridiculous decision. Clearly the Supreme Court is delaying the ruling for nothing more than pure politics. It sure as hell is not because they are too busy---check the docket. They all know that delay past the November election is imperative. These are not fools sitting on that bench. And for anyone to suggest that the Court is above politics just simply know nothing about history---in ND and DC. If what it appears to have happened captured the headlines, the political landscape would change dramatically----at the end of the day, we just don't like corruption. None of this has been necessary---months ago or even a year or two ago, Hoeven had the power to just simply tell all involved to clean up the mess. It would appear that he told them either explicitly or tacitly to cover up the mess and Stenejhem has clicked his heels and "followed orders". I really don't understand why some feel compelled to remain blind---be apologists for the established order. Our liberty is under attack when a shadow organization supercedes the rule of law. This is not new or even very clever but it has been effective. No one, no matter what political party you are in, nor what political beliefs you hold should ever tolerate corruption. What probably began as something quite small has grown into what is without doubt, the biggist political scandal in our state's history. At this point, when the truth enjoys sunlight, a lot of political careers will be ended. It is sad that those who will fall have in the past performed good service to our state but that will be washed away in the test of their character when they needed to stand up for the law and the integrity we have a right to demand. |
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Eyeball
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Interesting use of words I recall someone inside the walls of WSI using the term "sexy" as an adjective to describe some element of the WSI mess. Then at one of the IB&L Committee hearings, I heard Rick Berg use a certain unique phrase that I saw a blogger use here as well. They both wrote as people who believe either that there are no problems at WSI that need correcting or that everyone was to blame but themselves for WSIs woes. So, "sexy" (if I am correct), how does it feel to be ousted by WSI? Do you feel betrayed? Did they turn their backs on you? Do you feel like you were stabbed in the back? I don't give a shit about your guilt or innocence, what I do want to know is were you calling the shots on willfully hurting WSI employees and their careers or did you just go along with your minions suggestions? You had the power to stop the crap, why didn't you? WSI would not be in the shape it is in now if you would have stopped the bullshit early on. What a bunch of crap this meeting at the East 40 is. Too much of a coincidence that they just happened to be in the same restaurant. With WSI being in the delicate situation and spotlight like it is, come on, you damn well better conduct your business during business hours, following the rules, and act like you are under a microscope. To then "discover" you have a quorum, well, save that line for Ethics 101. Oh yeah, Furness really cares about his WSI employees, so much that he drags Mary Thompson right into the fire, center stage. |
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Hooked On Phonics Worked for You!
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Let's see some examples Well, someone found an online dictionary. Congratulations. You may benefit from examples of exactly how corruption has permeated WSI. corruption 1. lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain [syn: corruptness] [ant: incorruption]. Furness and the board members who particpated in the illegal meeting are all in positions of public trust. They have abused those positions by participating in illegal meetings. The purpose of this and other illegal meetings is to ensure that the shadow influences who have run WSI for the past many years will continue to be served well - knowingly or unknowingly by the ilk of Furness et al. Look at Long - he publicly flagellates himself for "falling in" to the culture at WSI before shaking himself free. Furness had been there less than three months and was already sucked in. 2. in a state of progressive putrefaction [syn: putrescence] - The Furness email itself is evidence of "progressive putrefaction." Furness, a formerly well-respected republican finds himself participating in an illegal, unannounced public meeting. When surrounded by the same WSI insiders who where at the heart of Blunt's regime, Furness' vision is now so impaired that he no longer is capable of noticing that he is actively participating in conduct that is illegal. That's progressive. That's putrid. 3. decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation) - the systematic abuse of injured workers by adopting policies that are designed to force blue-collar employees to navigate a system so complex most trial lawyers in this state no longer work with it. That's rotten. 4. moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity"; "Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction" See number one. 5. destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity; "corruption of a minor"; "the big city's subversion of rural innocence." See number two above. 6. inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony); "he was held on charges of corruption and racketeering." In order to preserve the status quo, the Interim CEO has been induced to participate in meetings that are part of the deeply entrenched, corrupt culture at WSI. Keep readin' those internet dictionaries. It has been quite helpful. |
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Pegasus
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Governance committee quorum? What exactly was the purpose of the unfounded, inadvertent working dinner meeting? Governance? Didn't the WSI Chair appoint Grossbauer as head of the Governance Committee? I wonder why he wasn't invited to dinner with the rest of them. Why wasn't he meeting with the Governance consultant? |
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Robin
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Board governance consultant overpaid and underqualified Consultant Stacy Sjogren participated in a working supper discussing board business and didn't know there was a quorum of the governance committee present? This group just keeps stumbling. Hard to believe it was inadvertent. |
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Rumor has it
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Allegedly The purpose of the meeting was marginalize Grossbauer and Curl using the Board governance model - allegedly. That was why they weren't invited to the meeting and why the consultant was. Simple, really. |
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Chet
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Don't see a problem I don't see how there's a problem. If you're going to use the Board governance model to (further) undermine or marginalize two board members, how can you get anything done if you don't have a quorum of the board members at your illegal secret meeting? And what's the point of having a secret, illegal meeting regarding governance if you don't invite your governance consultant to help the quorum marginalize the targeted Board members? Again, I don't see a problem. It just seems like standard Republican operating procedure to me. Political strategery at its finest. I have to wonder where John Hoeven is on this. If it's true that this illegal secret meeting was being held to marginalize two of Hoeven's appointees on a state agency board, you'd think he'd be pretty upset about it. You'd think Hoeven would be calling for some more resignations. Well, maybe not Hoeven. He wouldn't be upset. He wouldn't call for resignations. He's probably supportive. What I meant to say is that a real leader would be upset to learn that two of his appointees were being illegally marginalized by other state agency board members. |
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doug d.riley
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theres something theres something about the smell around wsi that effects the brain-furness was mayor in fargo for twelve years,he knows all about open meeting laws-furness just did a tour of wsi with a tribune reporter the other day to show how happy everyone is thats working there-i'm sure by now they have painted little happy faces all over the walls,but in really small print it says the word shit underneath them-i wonder who paid the bill at the restaurant??the other two board members were'nt invited because their votes an opinions do'nt count anyway-remember there is nothing wrong with wsi-the money must be really good for people to waddle in that much feces an be able to put on a smile,what a load......P.S. i wonder if furness calls hoven DADDY when they meet.... |
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Pegasus
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I get it Allegedly meeting to marginalize board members. The only two members who dissent openly. The two org governance gurus (consultant and Thompson) were willing participants? Oops. There's been a long history of board manipulation (Conolly's shadow management). Allegedly, a WSI insider scurried to meet with the two new board members prior to their very first meeting. Allegedly to orient them about issues pertaining to WSI. Wonder if those issues included discussion about the future of the whistleblowers and maybe even a couple board members? Anyone want to bet a half-eaten grilled cheese sandwich on that one? |
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nimrod
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Carver Governance Model Where can I go to buy the Carver Governance Model? It obviously works really well. It must have its antecedents in the "good old boy" model. It also must have a relationship to the "smoke-filled room" concept of open government. Maybe it'll be on sale at Wal-Mart soon. I sure hope so. How much glue do you think I'll need to put it together? |
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Chet
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In defense of Carver From what I've read about Carver, it's a pretty good governance model when it's used properly. The problems arise -- and Carver experts acknowledge this out loud -- when it is not implemented properly, such as when board members have secret, illegal meetings. If they'd pay me what they're paying Conolly, I'd help them implement it properly. Seriously. Bruce. Give me a call. |
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Mathematician
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October If it takes Wain Stenjum 117 days or more to write his opinion on this open meetings violation it will come out in September or October. By then everyone will have forgotten another illegal WSI board meeting was ever held. Its good to be king. |
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Mr. Ford
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Here is an IDEA Bruce So if they just trickle in to the restaurant then its not considered a closed meeting? I wonder if this was planned to spread out everyone?s arrival as to not throw up a red flag? Oh I know nothing at WSI is planned it just happens. I am sure in time Furness will understand what "open meeting" means. Since he is playing this one down as an "I didn't know" does the mean he gets the one strike rule? Oh the wicked webs they must weave! Here is an idea Bruce save yourself some more headache and just go back to Fargo and retire. It might be in your best interest before you get caught doing something illegal AGAIN!!!! |
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Mr. Ford
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Check out this link, and guess whos name is at the bottom of this idea!! http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=19555 ND Lawmakers Consider Boosting Their Own Pay Wow glad they are getting more since the injured workers cant! |
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doug d.riley
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i've asked i've asked this question alot and still do'nt have an answer-why has'nt the BCI been called in to investigate wsi-everytime you look wsi is putting their foot in it-no-one an nothing is above the law-wsi just has a couple of big names blocking the door ways-why can't the ag be removed-i get sooo tired as does everyone else watching wsi make lame excuses and walking way with it..... |
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Chet
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Follow-up The Grand Forks Herald is reporting, this morning, that there may be yet another open meeting violations being looked into at WSI. Here's the link. May 21st AND June 10th. Can you imagine? They hold the illegal meeting on May 21st. They're busted. A request for A.G. opinion on their violation is filed May 22nd. So what do they do? They have another secret, illegal meeting again less than three weeks later. Where's Hoeven?  |
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IWofND
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Doesn't that one singer Britney Spears have a song out about this? Goes something like....."Opps I did it again!" Just goes to show you nothing will change unless we force it to change. |
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Pegasus
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What about all those phone calls? According to the article in the GFH, shouldn't those calls between Gjovig, Indvik, and Mandigo have been investigated for open meetings violations? The AG had the information (heck, the entire world could find it right here). While he's investigating all these other alleged violations, maybe he should dig into that too. |
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Pegasus
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Trib editorial Maybe the Trib editors should retract the 'New Look' piece. Kinda looks the same, if you ask me. |
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nimrod
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Where's Hoeven? He is too busy single-handedly opening up ND for economic development, increasing the price of a barrel of oil, and increasing commodity prices for grain, beans, sugar, beef, and pork. Also, remember kids, in the open meetings game, sometimes the sideshow is intended to get you to take your eye off the ball. |
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S. Fred Wood
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Well Chet... I liked the Dickinson Press version better: Chairwoman Roberta Ripplinger of Minot made numerous references to having discussed the issue with her fellow committee members before the meeting. Ripplinger mentioned several times what the other two members? sentiments were, all before either of the other two members spoke during the meeting. The other two are Dyste and J.P. Wiest of Jamestown. Didn't Bobbie get the memo? "ya, we meet behind closed doors in illegal meetings but don't be obvious." They have been doing it for so long they don't even care if people notice. Shame on them. |
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Waiting and Waiting for Action
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Reams of Incidents, No Action Didn't the whistleblowers turn in their corrupt coworkers with pages and pages of examples of exactly this type of behavior? To this day, exactly NOTHING they reported has ever been investigated - even though their allegations were CRIMINAL in nature - not civil. The best we can hope for, it seems, is hefty civil judgments against the state through Flanagan's suit giving us an O.J.esque form of justice. Isn't it also interesting that the Bismarck Tribune is now absent? This story is hitting major papers across the state, but the same Tribune that published the political cartoon of the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" employees at WSI is now silent. Kind of makes their glowing editorial seem like another whitewash. Puke. |
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Truth
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... Hmmm lets see Roberta Ripplinger is the HR Director for the City of Minot and knows nothing about open meetings laws/violations. Perhaps someone should look into the city of Minot and how they operate. Her explanation is a joke, but then so is the whole WSI fiasco. When will it end. The tribune has egg on its face for being sucked in by Furness. After 10 years of incompetence, arrogance, breaking laws, do the editors of the Tribune think it will all change in 3 months and then to praise Halvorson the cameleon (sp) who changes his appearance to suck up to whoever is in charge, PUKE. |
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Pegasus
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And speaking of whistleblowers How is WSI going to explain terminating the 4 whistleblowers who actually reported perceived issues and not the one who reported nothing? |
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News
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Wetzel Publishes Article in Williston Herald http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/s...TE=DEFAULT A story was posted on the Williston Herald late tonight by Dale Wetzel. Check it out. |
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S. Fred Wood
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Thanks News. I was wondering what Anyone going to ask for the e-mails? I'll bet they disappear. Open records go the way of open meetings. |
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In the Know
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More lawsuits? Does anyone know why Long's and Grinsteiner's lawsuits are taking so long to appear? |
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Mr. Ford
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I like this statement by Bruce Furness "It wasn't a private thing at all. There were a number of people around," Furness said. "We sat where they put us. We didn't have a special arrangement." So is he saying that since they were in a public place, and others were around it isn't really a meeting at all? I guess I am just missing his trying to explain this away. Good luck Bruce your doing a "bang up job" just like the CEO before you. |
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Steve C.
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What about the petition What ever happened with the petition circulated to put WSI under the control of our worthless Gov. Thought I would have seen it on the primary ballot. Even though our Gov is part of the whole mess, it would be difficult for him to let his teflon coating, let these illegal activities slip off without being noticed. Anyone having any piece of info on the petition and if we will get a chance to vote on it this fall, please share. This agency makes me angrier every time I hear about it. |
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