U.S. Rep. Fitzgerald: Introduces bill to ban private interest funding for state attorney generals

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued a statement following the introduction of his new bill, the Ensuring State Attorney General Accountability Act. This bill would prohibit private interest funding to any attorney general of a state for the purpose of a lawsuit, investigation, or renumeration of personnel.

“Private money directly funding official government functions, like Attorney General enforcement actions, can create a conflict of interest between what is in the best interests of a private sponsor, versus what is in the best interests of the People. We saw this happen when ‘Zuckerbucks’ were funding official election proceedings in Wisconsin, and now private interests have infiltrated our state attorney’s office too,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “I introduced the Ensuring State Attorney General Accountability Act to keep out-of-state billionaires in check and out of our state attorney general’s office, which should work only for the people of Wisconsin, not outside climate activists.”

Background: Earlier this year, the Attorney General of Wisconsin hired a new special assistant attorney general’s position on environmental litigation at an annual salary of $90,000 a year. The position is being paid for by the State Energy and Environmental Impact Center (SEEIC) at New York University Law School—which was funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s charitable foundation with a $6 million grant.

Similar environmental fellows have been appointed in a dozen other states, and Minnesota and Virginia have recently banned this practice.