Talk:Steve Gottwalt

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The following Wikipedia contributor has declared a personal or professional connection to the subject of this article. Relevant policies and guidelines may include conflict of interest and neutral point of view.

Steve6187 (talk · contribs) This user has not edited the article. This user has declared a connection. (declared here)

Edit request

This edit request by an editor with a conflict of interest has now been answered.

Steve6187 (talk) 15:47, 3 August 2018 (UTC) I request the following edits to this page to provide greater accuracy, balance and fairness.[reply]

Alleged conflict of interest Gottwalt came under the scrutiny of members of the House Ethics Committee in 2012 after it was alleged he had benefitted financially from legislation that he sponsored the previous year.[13][14] In 2011, Gottwalt sponsored the Healthy Minnesota Contribution Program, a bill that diverted Minnesotans receiving MinnesotaCare to the private insurance market.[15] The legislation was part of the Republican agenda during the government shutdown and was passed in July of that year. Gottwalt later renewed his Minnesota license to sell insurance.[16] In his Statement of Economic Interests,[17] filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, Gottwalt did not disclose his insurance sales business activities because he was not involved in such business at the time.[16] When questioned about the alleged conflict of interest, he defended his relationship to John Tyler, owner of Boys and Tyler, saying "The fact that I'm involved in that doesn't mean we were sneakily trying to come up with something to benefit ourselves. It's actually the other way around because we worked together."[16]

Explanation of proposed edits: - The opening sentence stated it was "discovered he had benefitted financially." Error of fact: This was an allegation later found untrue. Gottwalt did not benefit financially from the legislation helped pass because the products he sold were for employer group coverage and not the MinnesotaCare population the legislation addressed. Consequently, the House Ethics Committee took no action on the matter. - The page indicates Gottwalt worked for Boys and Tyler Financial. This is an error of fact. Gottwalt was never employed by Boys and Tyler Financial. - The page states Gottwalt "did not disclose his insurance sales business activities." However, it fails to include the important fact that Gottwalt was not involved in the insurance business at the time the Statement of Economic Interest was filed. - Again, the conflict was alleged. The House Ethics Committee found no direct or indirect conflict of interest, and took no action on the matter. No articles reported this important fact.

These are important, factual and objective edits that improve the accuracy of this biography. Thank you.Steve6187 (talk) 15:47, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Note Steve6187 would appear to be Steve Gottwalt. Jim1138 (talk) 15:56, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. That is correct. Steve6187 (talk) 15:58, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Please also note, the Statement of Economic Interest (link offered on this page as a source) accurately shows all of Gottwalt's (my) sources of compensation. Steve Gottwalt Consulting LLC is listed and included Gottwalt's insurance work. The page currently indicates Gottwalt "failed" to disclose his insurance business. Steve6187 (talk) 16:08, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I've removed some references which were problematic dead or redundant and placed templates covering the need for more references and the wording of "disclosed" vs the prior wording from the article which was "alleged". I'll leave this open for other editors to chime in. spintendo 16:47, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Another source which supports a statement: Briana Bierschbach (November 21, 2016). "State pulls grant contract after questions about legislator's potential conflict of interest". MinnPost. Jim1138 (talk) 17:25, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

NOTE: This source continues the incorrect statement from previous articles: "Months after the bill passed, Gottwalt signed on as an independent contractor for an insurance brokerage firm that had lobbied for the change." Gottwalt was never an independent contractor for the brokerage firm, and neither Gottwalt nor the firm stood to realize any financial gain from the legislation Gottwalt sponsored. The reporter did not confirm these facts and they are disputed. Thank you. Steve6187 (talk) 18:57, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I would also point-out that the requested edits are to articles focusing narrowly on negative issues. Taken together, the choice of articles and sources paints an inaccurate picture of Gottwalt's (my) biography as a state legislator. There are many other articles about equally significant positive achievements that are not included, suggesting a negative bias in the original author. I will respectfully ask Wikipedia editors to consider this in the interest of accuracy, balance and fairness. Thank you.97.88.37.178 (talk) 19:12, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The profession listed for Steve Gottwalt is out-of-date and inaccurate. Please change "legislator insurance broker" to "independent consultant and non-profit executive director". 97.88.37.178 (talk) 23:54, 3 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I would ask the editor to consider balancing the posted content by including this article and achievement: <ref>http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legislature-approves-tougher-elder-abuse-bill/146375165/<ref> Thank you. 97.88.37.178 (talk) 00:03, 4 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

As far as altering the source, it would be in your interest to contact the reporter's supervisor in order to ask for a retraction if you feel that is warranted. This would solve two problems at once: the error in the publication and the error in Wikipedia. Wikipedia operates on references, so without a retraction, there is little that can be done from here. However, because this has to do with statements which may be injurious to your character, you might want to consider posting your concerns at the conflict of interest noticeboard, where you may receive faster, more variegated assistance as compared with posting on the talk-page alone. spintendo 03:47, 4 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Note that IP 97.88.37.178 is Steve Gottwalt

Self-identified on-wiki HERE. He speaks of himself in the third person above, which is misleading. Be advised and monitor edits emanating from this IP carefully. Carrite (talk) 16:37, 5 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]