U.S. Senator Roland Burris has been sidestepping questions about his role(s) in the IFDA master trust troubles. While the Senator was a side issue to a March 30th article published by the Springfield Journal Register, the statement provided by his public-relations specialist may signal just how little Mr. Burris understood about his responsibilities to the
March 2009
This legislation may have warts, but the piper wants to be paid.
By Bill Stalter on
Officially, its called House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1. Some of the ‘unofficial’ titles given this bill are not fit for publication.
It doesn’t matter who you talk to about Missouri’s current preneed reform bill, everyone has a complaint. Even the consumer advocates. Under normal circumstances…
Chris Butler’s attempt to set the record straight
By Bill Stalter on
The IFDA seems to be everyone’s favorite whipping boy. Even prominent industry leaders are stepping back from the Association in its time of need. The epicenter for the latest news on the IFDA’s troubles has been the Springfield Journal-Register and Bruce Rushton. Mr. Rushton has done a thorough and excellent job of reporting on…
Now that we have your attention: IFDA liability exposure
By Bill Stalter on
In naming the IFDA officers and board of directors as individual defendants in their lawsuit, the Calvert group sought to make these individuals accountable for management of the association’s master trust. Members of a board of directors have a duty to act in the best interests of the organization. Defenses against personal liability are…
It’s not my job, man.
By Bill Stalter on
Illinois and Missouri have more in common than they may realize. Consumers and funeral directors are blaming state regulators for their current preneed problems. Looking to avoid that hot seat, regulators have been stating their excuses/defenses. If legislators are to correct the flaws in their state’s preneed oversight, they need to put partisan politics aside…
Lipstick on a pig: the Missouri Consumer Funeral Commission
By Bill Stalter on
It’s a fact that the NPS collapse threatens the viability of many Missouri funeral homes. It’s also a fact the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors had jurisdiction over NPS and did not shut the company down in time to prevent the current crisis. In a response, a group of the injured funeral…