The Conservative Leadership Conference named Michael B. Brodkorb “Blogger of the Year” today in Las Vegas at the 2008 conference. Brodkorb runs Minnesota Democrats Exposed, which gained national attention when he broke the story concerning Al Franken’s failure to pay payroll taxes in New York. After posting that exclusive, the news went national.
In his article “MDE EXCLUSIVE: AL FRANKEN CLAIMS TO BE FRIEND OF THE WORKING MAN AND WOMAN, YET $25,000 JUDGMENT FILED AGAINST FRANKEN’S COMPANY FOR FAILURE TO CARRY WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCE,” Brodkorb wrote:
According to public court documents, the State of New York Workers’ Compensation Board filed a $25,000 judgment in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against Alan Franken Inc, for “Failure to Carry Workers’ Comp Ins 6/29/2002-03/28/2005.”
Public records from the state of New York, list Al Franken as “Chairman or Chief Executive Officer” of Alan Franken Inc.
The $25,000 judgment filed against Alan Franken Inc., was filed on May 29, 2007 - over four months after Franken announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
Franken had time to resolve this matter before the judgement was filed, as on August 8, 2006, Alan Franken Inc was issued a “Final Notice” from the State of New York Workers’ Compensation Board for “Failure to Carry Workers’ Comp Ins 6/29/2002-03/28/2005.” Public records indicate that no payment was made.
Franken’s website claims he’ll “fight to preserve the integrity of our occupational safety and prevailing wage laws.” Not carrying workers’ compensation insurance certainly isn’t protecting or preserving labor laws.
Personal financial disclosure forms filed with the U.S. Senate on May 15, 2007, show that Franken was paid over $1 million by Alan Franken Inc., yet according to public information, Franken didn’t provide workers’ comp insurance.
Franken continues to play fast and loose with the truth about the New York Al Franken. The Minnesota Al Franken tries to be everyone’s friend and is nice and plays by the rules.
This story has lead to the revelation that Franken owes back taxes in 18 states.
Brodkorb is having a serious impact on the election in Minnesota, and for that, the Conservative Leadership Conference felt he warranted the “Blogger of the Year” award. We had a chance to talk with him following the presentation and will have that interview on next Saturday’s podcast.
Congratulations, Michael Bordkorb.
