SEANC defends its ad claim

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:50:10 -0400

Kevin LeCount, an organizer for the State Employees Association of North Carolina, said that its description of Blue Cross Blue Shield's profits was accurate.

The ad says that Blue Cross "made $180 million in profits-including money from a no-bid contract to administer our State Health Plan" — adding that's "not bad for a 'nonprofit.'"

This morning, a Blue Cross official took exception, saying that the company's profit margin on the contract was closer to $478,000.

But LeCount said he has no way to verify that figure.

"The distinction is that we stated that their total profits are $180 million INCLUDING money from the no-bid contract," he wrote in an e-mail to Dome (all-caps his). "We have no idea what their true profits are from their administering of the health plan since they won't open up the entire contract for public inspection."

SEANC candidates did well

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:23:24 -0500

Election Day was a good day for SEANC.

Only 17 of the 121 candidates endorsed by the State Employees Association of North Carolina did not win election — an 86 percent success rate for the state workers' group.

Big wins included Governor-elect Beverly Perdue, who writes the state budget and can veto legislation on state workers' issues; Lt. Governor-elect Walter Dalton, who presides over the state Senate; 29 of 32 endorsed Senate races and 67 of 74 House races.

Among the disappointments was state Auditor Les Merritt, a rare Republican to receive the group's backing; Commissioner of Labor Mary Fant Donnan, who had pledged to be more labor-friendly; and Ed Ridpath, a perennial candidate who had hoped to unseat House Republican leader Paul Stam.

State organizer Kevin LeCount said SEANC's political action committee spent about $250,000 on the election, including 48,500 mailers touting the endorsements and donations of up to $4,000 to legislative candidates.

SEANC's national affiliate, the Service Employees International Union, also spent money on the governor's race.