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How Much Did Sen. Ted Stevens' House Renovation Really Cost?
A new development this morning in the criminal investigation of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. The Seattle Times reports on its interview with David Anderson, a foreman for the corrupt oilfield services company, Veco, who supervised the renovation of Stevens' Girdwood, Ak., home. Anderson is the nephew of former Veco chairman Bill Allen, who has pleaded guilty to bribery in the wide-ranging federal criminal investigation into political corruption in Alaska.
According to Anderson, Veco provided $150,000 worth of labor renovating the Stevens home, which the FBI raided earlier this year as part of its investigation into Stevens and his connection with the Veco. That's compared to the "more than $130,000" Stevens claimed last summer to have paid for the renovation. So if labor alone was $150,000, what does that make the total price tag on the project? That's not clear:
Anderson, 48, said the total remodeling cost, including materials and subcontractors, was way above $130,000."We did all kinds of stuff, so it's ludicrous to think that it's only $130,000," Anderson said in a November interview. "Labor alone was more than that."
Anderson said he cannot provide a full account of all the costs because he never received a project budget from Allen and did not review all the expenses. Also, he said Stevens never asked for an estimate.
Anderson had a falling out with his uncle several years ago. Anderson claims he was fired from Veco because he started dating his uncle's ex-girlfriend. Allen has, in turn, accused Anderson of blackmail.
Among the political tasks Anderson undertook during his 25 years working for Veco was "the welding of a pork rotisserie used at annual campaign fundraisers hosted by Allen for U.S. Rep. Don Young, Alaska's lone House member." As longtime readers know, Young's annual Pig Roast is just one of his connections to Veco, which have also come under scrutiny from federal investigators.
Comments (9)
Anonymous wrote on December 26, 2007 3:32 PM:sloppy seconds on your 80 year old uncle's girlfriend?
can't make this shit up
correctnotright wrote on December 26, 2007 3:38 PM:true Alaska trash story!
Alaska republicans:
Arrogant, corrupt and proud of it.
Gee- just like republicnas everywhere. Between Ted Stevens and Don Young, Alaska has an all-star delegation of crooked and rotten politics - and that doesn't even count all the republican state representatives already indicted for corruption. It is a veritable salmon run of corruption and the few honest Alsak republicans are swimming downstream amidst the torrent of Stevens and Young returning to spawn more corruption.
Leta wrote on December 26, 2007 4:56 PM:How much of that "labor" was Hispanic? Cause 65% of all construction work is done by Hispanics...that'd be interesting.
Yes, you can't make this stuff up.
fcc wrote on December 26, 2007 10:06 PM:In my 25 years experiance as a contractor I've found all my jobs falling within a 60/40 labor/material ratio. It might flip the other way (mat/labor), but always within a 50/50 +/- 10%.
So, when I see 130K labor stated as cost, I assume a quarter million dollar job, at minimum.
Given the high transportation costs involved with shipping to Alaska I think it's fair to add 10-15% on top of it.
Even so, I'm not certain it's fair to accuse the Hon. Ted Stevens of graft and bribery. It could well be his superb negotiating skills honed over his career in the Senate. The old give and take, so to speak.
Yep, I'm sure of it.
johnnydoughey wrote on December 26, 2007 11:13 PM:I suppose nobody (laborers) ended up with W4 wages which could be checked, either, now, did they....
heh wrote on December 27, 2007 3:42 AM:whats the popularity for the tedster and minky guy, young?
they're both up for re-election in '08.
great job taking down the muck there josh.
Duker Special wrote on December 28, 2007 12:30 AM:Ben turns on Daddy Ted but Bill Allen doesn't turn on his kids but on Ben and Ted to save his kids.....
Viola
Theodosius30 wrote on January 3, 2008 1:40 AM:Take a look at the Anchorage Daily News Blog this evening. there is more on this story.
Theodosius30 wrote on January 3, 2008 1:42 AM:Take a look at the Anchorage Daily News Blog this evening. there is more on this story.