Rick Scott wins

Yes it was. Dozens of hospitals were charged. Most were cleared of just about everything. And people blame Scott yet he was never questioned or charged with anything. Those Clintons are a sneaky bunch.

They don't call him "Slick Willy" for nothing:roll:

PolitiFact | Rick Scott and the fraud case of Columbia/HCA

Columbia/HCA history

Scott started what was first Columbia in the spring of 1987, purchasing two El Paso, Texas, hospitals. He quickly grew the company by purchasing more hospitals. A hospital network created efficiencies. Efficiencies created profits.

In 1994, Scott?s Columbia purchased Tennessee-headquartered HCA and its 100 hospitals, and merged the companies. When Scott resigned as CEO in 1997, Columbia/HCA had grown to more than 340 hospitals, 135 surgery centers and 550 home health locations in 37 states and two foreign countries, Scott?s campaign says. The company employed more than 285,000 people.

Now about Scott?s departure in 1997.

That year, federal agents went public with an investigation into the company, first seizing records from four El Paso-area hospitals and then expanding across the country. In time it became apparent that the investigation focused on whether Columbia/HCA bilked Medicare and Medicaid.

Scott resigned as CEO in July 1997, less than four months after the inquiry became public and before the depth of the investigation became clear. Company executives said had Scott remained CEO, the entire chain could have been in jeopardy.

At issue, Scott says, is that he wanted to fight the federal government accusations. The corporate board of the publicly traded company wanted to settle.

And settle, Columbia/HCA did.

In December 2000, the U.S. Justice Department announced what it called the largest government fraud settlement in U.S. history when Columbia/HCA agreed to pay $840 million in criminal fines and civil damages and penalties.

Among the revelations from the 2000 settlement, which all apply to when Scott was CEO:

* Columbia billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs for tests that were not necessary or ordered by physicians;
* The company attached false diagnosis codes to patient records to increase reimbursement to the hospitals;
* The company illegally claimed non-reimbursable marketing and advertising costs as community education;
* Columbia billed the government for home health care visits for patients who did not qualify to receive them.

The government settled a second series of similar claims with Columbia/HCA in 2002 for an additional $881 million.

The total fine: $1.7 billion.

Plea deals, fraud

As part of the 2000 settlement, Columbia/HCA agreed to plead guilty to at least 14 corporate felonies. A corporate felony comes with financial penalties but not jail time, since a corporation can?t be sent to prison.

Among the 14 felonies, Columbia/HCA pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Also, four Florida-based Columbia/HCA executives were indicted. Two were convicted of defrauding Medicare in 1999 and were sentenced to prison, only to have those convictions overturned on appeal. A third executive was acquitted and a jury failed to reach a verdict on the fourth.

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/rickscottbillmccollum/2010/08/22/id/368131

By: Steve Forbes

As someone who twice ran for president, I understand the circus atmosphere that can surround a campaign, but I?m not sure I?ve seen anything like the week Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has had. Even as Scott remains unwilling to address his true role in the HCA/Columbia hospital chain?s criminal conduct when he was its CEO, new questions have been raised about allegedly similar fraudulent practices at his most recent healthcare venture.

So, we want this guy as Governor of Florida? Even if what he claims is true: that he did not know about the fraud...do we want a Governor who has no idea what his staff/department heads are doing?

Make it the place in Emerald Coast Plaza. I am in the south probably more than you are in the north and the dawgs were pretty good there last week.

Done!

PolitiFact | Rick Scott and the fraud case of Columbia/HCAForbes: You Can't Trust Rick Scott



So, we want this guy as Governor of Florida? Even if what he claims is true: that he did not know about the fraud...do we want a Governor who has no idea what his staff/department heads are doing?

Want? What has that got to do with anything? You act like you have a choice. Problem is you are actually going to do research and do what you think is best for the State. But the other 90% are not going to do that and when it is over with at the end of the day, >50%+1=Rick Scott.

Pled guilty to 14 corporate felonies, paid $1.7 billion in fines - but how much did the taxpayers shell out for all those bogus claims?

My guess is we paid for most of the robocalls driving me nuts. :shock:

Pled guilty to 14 corporate felonies, paid $1.7 billion in fines - but how much did the taxpayers shell out for all those bogus claims?

My guess is we paid for most of the robocalls driving me nuts. :shock:

Rick Scott did not plead guilty to anything. Was not even questioned. Nothing but a smoke screen put up by the big government liberal democrats. Heck if we have to believe Rick Scott was responsible for all of that stuff then I guess Alex Sink was responsible for the bailout needed by Bank of America. She was in charge after all.

Rick Scott did not plead guilty to anything. Was not even questioned. Nothing but a smoke screen put up by the big government liberal democrats. Heck if we have to believe Rick Scott was responsible for all of that stuff then I guess Alex Sink was responsible for the bailout needed by Bank of America. She was in charge after all.

Interesting observation. She was buddy buddy with Ken Lewis, referring to him as her mentor in her 2006 campaign. I guess if we apply the same logic Scott detractors are applying, she's as dirty as Lewis is, or anyone else at BofA that worked underneath her.

How big was the fine against B of A for fraud?

Now, I'm not saying that they don't deserve one, but I will say that if you can find information about internal accounting practices prior to 2006, when Alex Sink left B of A, which were illegal or immoral or sketchy, then I'd be interested.

How big was the fine against B of A for fraud?

Now, I'm not saying that they don't deserve one, but I will say that if you can find information about internal accounting practices prior to 2006, when Alex Sink left B of A, which were illegal or immoral or sketchy, then I'd be interested.

I suppose you think it is possible that all the problems occured from 2007-2008 to get big banks like BoA in enough trouble that we had to spend billions to keep them in business?
Scott: cost us millions?
Sink: cost us billions?

Is there a third door?

I suppose you think it is possible that all the problems occured from 2007-2008 to get big banks like BoA in enough trouble that we had to spend billions to keep them in business?
Scott: cost us millions?
Sink: cost us billions?

Is there a third door?

The issues with B of A don't fall into the category (to me) of problems that occurred because they were cooking the books. They had problems in marketing and underwriting and followed the herd like good banking sheep.

If she had been CEO, I'd give it some thought.

Just for the record, I don't think BofA was ever in any danger of going under. Far from it. Any money sent their way was designed to spur lending and stimulate the economy. They had just gotten through buying Merrill Lynch and Countrywide.

Just for the record, I don't think BofA was ever in any danger of going under. Far from it. Any money sent their way was designed to spur lending and stimulate the economy. They had just gotten through buying Merrill Lynch and Countrywide.

I guess that is why they needed 45 billion in taxpayer money from TARP.

I guess that is why they needed 45 billion in taxpayer money from TARP.

Did you not read my explanation at all? They were in absolutely no danger of bankruptcy. they did not in any way shape or form need that money for survival. Please show me something stating otherwise if you're so sure.

Did you not read my explanation at all? They were in absolutely no danger of bankruptcy. they did not in any way shape or form need that money for survival. Please show me something stating otherwise if you're so sure.

Apparently at the time there was at least some question about their viability:

The Bonddad Blog: Former IMF Economist Sees Big Bank Going Under

Apparently at the time there was at least some question about their viability:

The Bonddad Blog: Former IMF Economist Sees Big Bank Going Under

It looks a bit tinfoil hat-like. The money that BAC took made them more secure in their purchase of Merrill Lynch and gave them more lending power. The latter was supposed to help stimulate the economy. I can't say whether it was successful or not. In any event, they were in no danger of going under. Worst case they could have backed out of the Merril Lynch deal.

Did you not read my explanation at all? They were in absolutely no danger of bankruptcy. they did not in any way shape or form need that money for survival. Please show me something stating otherwise if you're so sure.

They had failed. We bailed them out. They were one of the few big banks that needed the TARP funds to keep their capital ratios above water. Also, FYI, we haven't seen the last of BofA's financial woes.

They had failed. We bailed them out. They were one of the few big banks that needed the TARP funds to keep their capital ratios above water. Also, FYI, we haven't seen the last of BofA's financial woes.

What about Citigroup and Wells fargo?

What about Citigroup and Wells fargo?

I'd consider Citi a failed bank as well. I don't remember Wells taking any money, or if they did, maybe they took it as smoke screen coverage for the others.

Anyway doesn't make any difference. I'm not going to falt Sink for Ken Lewis and I'm not going to fault Scott for whoever ripped the government off.

I'm more interested in budgetary plans, line item vetos, education reform, citizens, and all this bloody money we're borrowing from the feds to make our mandatory medicaid payments.

I'd consider Citi a failed bank as well. I don't remember Wells taking any money, or if they did, maybe they took it as smoke screen coverage for the others.

Anyway doesn't make any difference. I'm not going to falt Sink for Ken Lewis and I'm not going to fault Scott for whoever ripped the government off.

I'm more interested in budgetary plans, line item vetos, education reform, citizens, and all this bloody money we're borrowing from the feds to make our mandatory medicaid payments.

Ok so by your definition a failed enterprise is any entity that accepts money from the government.

Did you not read my explanation at all? They were in absolutely no danger of bankruptcy. they did not in any way shape or form need that money for survival. Please show me something stating otherwise if you're so sure.

So Alex Sink was the state president for NationsBank, now Bank of America? Not quite CEO of the whole company, but damn if that ain't one notch below. I see she had that part removed from her Wikipedia page, but it is on her husband's (Bill McBride) page. He ran against Jeb for governor in 2002 and lost.

I disagree about BOA not being in trouble. Merrill Lynch and Country Wide were empty puffballs. CountryWide was giving out no doc loans left and right and when the real estate market collapsed, BOA was left with nothing to back the notes.

I cannot stand Bank of America based on their way of doing business. It was the same when they were Nation'sBank. Piss poor customer service and an outright crappy attitude to all customers. Learning that Sink was running the show of Bank of America for an entire state, I am going to be doing a lot more research on both her and Scott, who I already determined is a shyster.

Looks like Sink is against drilling offshore of Florida, but she is also for Obama-care. (wasn't it Hillary-care before Obama beat her?) Back in Jan 2009, she also announced that she would not run for governor. Now she is running. Starts to sound like a true politician.

Win a little/ lose a little. I'm less excited about her now.

Just saw this on her Wikipedia page. She is a descendant of the famous Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker.


If she will put that on Wikipedia, surely she has balls enough to state that she ran NationsBank. She doesn't even mention NationsBank (Bank of America.)

Back to the Siamese twins:
"Determined to start living a normal life as much as possible, the brothers settled on a plantation, bought slaves, and adopted the name "Bunker". On April 13, 1843, they married two sisters: Chang to Adelaide Yates and Eng to Sarah Anne Yates. Interestingly, this made their respective children double first cousins. In addition, because Chang and Eng were identical twins, their children were genetically equivalent to half-siblings, thus making them genetically related in the same manner as half-siblings who are also first cousins.

Their Traphill home is where they shared a bed built for four. Chang and his wife had 10 children; Eng and his wife had 11. In time, the wives squabbled[4] and eventually two separate households were set up just west of Mount Airy, North Carolina in the community of White Plains ? the twins would alternate spending three days at each home."

Can you imagine having sex with your wife, with your brother so intimately close?

Ok so by your definition a failed enterprise is any entity that accepts money from the government.

My definition of a failed bank is any institution that, without government funds and asset guarantees, fails basic means tests for capital requirements.

BofA really is the poster child for government collusion and corporate greed. They bought Country Wide and Merrill Lynch at the behest of the feds. In return for that 'favor' we guaranteed billions in worthless assets they purchased in the deals. Then we had to turn around and bail them out some more because the losses in both those institutions plus their own portfolio were far larger than anticipated. In the end BofA becomes the largest banking, investment, and lending institution in history by dumping worthless assets on the american taxpayer and by buying up new government subsidized assets they scraped up at bargain prices. Ken Lewis was instrumental in all of this.

Heck, Lewis should probably get an award. The guy is one slick mofo of ceo. He ripped us all off and walked away from the scene scott free and even more filthy stinking rich than he was before.

Why are you defending BofA by the way?

They bought Country Wide and Merrill Lynch at the behest of the feds. In return for that 'favor' we guaranteed billions in worthless assets they purchased in the deals.
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Calling BS shopper.

BofA bought Countrywide on their own in January of 2008.

The Bush administration bailed them out when the Countywide loan portfolio went south.

Merrill Lynch probably had more to do with BoA heading south at least according to the SEC.

Legal Briefing: Bank of America Shareholder Lawsuit Over Merrill Lynch Merger Moves Forward - DailyFinance

Bank of america shareholders sued Merrill Lynch.

I'd consider Citi a failed bank as well. I don't remember Wells taking any money, .

Wells Fargo is $25 Billion Richer, Thanks to TARP ? HousingWire

$25,000,000,000

or enough money to buy 25,000 houses that cost 1M

My definition of a failed bank is any institution that, without government funds and asset guarantees, fails basic means tests for capital requirements.

BofA really is the poster child for government collusion and corporate greed. They bought Country Wide and Merrill Lynch at the behest of the feds. In return for that 'favor' we guaranteed billions in worthless assets they purchased in the deals. Then we had to turn around and bail them out some more because the losses in both those institutions plus their own portfolio were far larger than anticipated. In the end BofA becomes the largest banking, investment, and lending institution in history by dumping worthless assets on the american taxpayer and by buying up new government subsidized assets they scraped up at bargain prices. Ken Lewis was instrumental in all of this.

Heck, Lewis should probably get an award. The guy is one slick mofo of ceo. He ripped us all off and walked away from the scene scott free and even more filthy stinking rich than he was before.

Why are you defending BofA by the way?

I just don't care for inaccurate statements when it comes to anything. I had accounts with BofA back in 2008. I was never worried about them going under, not just because of FDIC. I did my research, I looked at their balance sheet. They are effin' big. As a rule when it comes to banks, bigger is better and safer. They were never in danger of going under. I believe they make way more off credit cards and fees than loans. TARP money was a gift horse. It ensured that they could buy Merrill Lynch.

Wells Fargo is $25 Billion Richer, Thanks to TARP ? HousingWire

$25,000,000,000

or enough money to buy 25,000 houses that cost 1M

How could 30A have missed that one? I know who not to turn to now.