Declarations – East

Paying Back Taxpayers

“We want to show the taxpayer gets back all of their money, plus a profit. All over, the American people — between the Fed and U.S. Treasury — they’ll make between $5 and $10 billion profit when this is done.”

–American International Group CEO Bob Benmosche commenting during a recent interview with CNBC. The U.S. government still owns some 70-percent stake in the bailed-out insurer.

New Scams

“Homeowners who have been abused by mortgage servicers deserve financial relief, but some despicable con artists are seeking to victimize these New Yorkers again.”

–N.Y. State AG Eric Schneiderman on a new wave of scams. He warns homeowners to be alert for phone calls from people posing as government officials to get personal information through bogus offers of help with their mortgages.

Big Losses

“On an aggregate basis, 2011 losses incurred from these disasters were the largest in our history, exceeding our 2001 loss experience resulting from the World Trade Center attacks and other disasters, and our losses in 2005 from Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma.”

–Rhode Island-based business property insurer FM Global on its catastrophe losses worldwide in 2011, according to its annual report released on March 26.

Checking Social Media

“Providing Virginia’s citizens with the highest quality and caliber of state troopers requires a comprehensive vetting process.”

–Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller on the importance of reviewing social media pages of trooper candidates during the background investigation process.