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Gov: No hanky-panky in no-bid deal for wife's firm
By FREDRIC U. DICKER, State Editor
Last Updated: 6:45 AM, July 13, 2010
Posted: 2:44 AM, July 13, 2010

ALBANY -- Gov. Paterson yesterday defended the state's decision to award a $297 million, no-bid federal contract to a firm whose parent company employs his wife -- and claimed to have learned of the controversy from reading The Post.

The governor, speaking at a Lake Placid press conference, answered questions about The Post's exclusive report that his administration signed off on the deal without seeking competitive bids or even giving public notice.

Group Health Inc.'s parent, Emblem Health, employs First Lady Michelle Paterson as an executive making $152,000 a year.

"My first learning that there was a contract was reading it in the newspaper," the governor insisted. "The decision was made by the Department of Insurance, and it followed federal guidelines.".................>>>>...................>>>>..........................http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_firm_hanky_panky_in_no_bid_deal_q4QqWPWpHycbPNNLfM2ECI