John McDowell,
Coghill made that statement which I thought truly sums up his (and the majority of our legislators)  ability to deal with any issue. First throw money at it and if that doesn't solve it throw it over the fence.  
Of course Stevens is trying to sell this in an effort to put this behind them.  You are not wrong.  I agree with you that for the same reason you cannot rob a bank and expect to be exonerated if you give the money back before arrest, you can't violate state law regarding leasing and simply overcome that transgression with a purchase; however, this is the Alaska Legislature who truly operates above the law. They feel no compunction to obey any rule or law.   The  situation is as bad as it was in the 2010 when the Feds finally had to put a few of them in chains.  I am very concerned that our Attorney General is not going to act on this because of a political agenda of the Governor who appoints him.  We have nobody on "our side" in this affair from the government.