A lawsuit a week: the true cost of the Connecticut AG's DC agenda

In less than a year since President Trump took office, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D) has filed more than 40 lawsuits. That's about one per week. This legal explosion stands in sharp contrast to the previous administration, where the AG office focused on traditional areas like consumer protection, antitrust, and opiod settlements.

Much of the new litigation involves blocking federal executive actions, including cuts in federal funding. Most cases are copycat lawsuits filed in multi-state coalitions alongside other Democratic states, allowing the AG to participate in a national political fight using state resources.

Results are Mixed. As this GreenwichTime story notes, "In several notable cases, Connecticut and other state succeeded in blocking Trump policies from taking effect. While in a handful of others, Trump has prevailed. In most cases, the litigation remains pending." Some wins have included blocking the loss of $84 million of FEMA disaster relief funding, preserving federal education and library grants and ensuring the continuity of food stamps and scientific research.

Cost to CT Taxpayers. The CT AG's office is staffed with about 310 full-time employees. It has a large budget of almost $40 million annually, up from $37 million last year. Critics argue that diverting these high-priced resources to partisan national litigation, even if federal funding was saved, is an irresponsible use of taxpayer money and represents a significant opportunity cost of less focus on local issues.

Focus on Politics or Connecticut? While some of these lawsuits have resulted in protecting funding that directly impacts Connecticut, much of AG Tong's legal activity appears to be grandstanding to further his political career, distracting from real Connecticut issues.

Between the Lines: When AG Tong tries to convince you that he is heroically defending Connecticut's interests, ask yourself why the national political wars consume the vast majority of his time and headlines, overshadowing vital local fights that have more immediate, direct impact on your family budget, such as your sky high high electric and rising water bills.

Story here