On Monday, Republican candidate for Attorney General Ed Martin announced comprehensive and wide-ranging reforms to clean up the Attorney General’s office in Missouri. Martin’s announcement was prompted by State Auditor Tom Schweich’s audit of Chris Koster and the Attorney General’s office released on June 27. The audit revealed contingency contract bids were manipulated by the Attorney General with direct implications on campaign contributions.
“Schweich’s audit successfully brought to light the improper manipulation of contingency fee contracts by Koster and the Attorney General’s office,” Martin said. “Missourians deserve better from their state government. My plan will give Missourians the ability to see every step in the bidding and award process because it should be open and fair, not subject to campaign contributions and 'pay-to-play' tactics like it would be in Obama’s Chicago. Under my plan, the Attorney General’s office will meticulously document exactly where and how tax dollars are being spent on legal fees and witnesses. We need a government that is subject to the people, not controlled by interest groups and high-profile law firms.”
Martin’s plan will expand the Missouri Accountability Portal to include the following information:
“Schweich’s audit successfully brought to light the improper manipulation of contingency fee contracts by Koster and the Attorney General’s office,” Martin said. “Missourians deserve better from their state government. My plan will give Missourians the ability to see every step in the bidding and award process because it should be open and fair, not subject to campaign contributions and 'pay-to-play' tactics like it would be in Obama’s Chicago. Under my plan, the Attorney General’s office will meticulously document exactly where and how tax dollars are being spent on legal fees and witnesses. We need a government that is subject to the people, not controlled by interest groups and high-profile law firms.”
Martin’s plan will expand the Missouri Accountability Portal to include the following information:
- All costs legal or otherwise with backup documentation
- All fees to outside lawyers with backup documentation
- All campaign contributions to the Attorney General’s campaign or related committees while in office.
The plan will also establish a moratorium on contingency fee awards.
Further details of the plan are based on suggestions from State Auditor Tom Schweich in regards to contingency fee contract awards, professional services, office policies and procedures, and internal
controls. Such suggestions include:
Further details of the plan are based on suggestions from State Auditor Tom Schweich in regards to contingency fee contract awards, professional services, office policies and procedures, and internal
controls. Such suggestions include:
- Working with the Office of Administration to remove the veto language in future contingency fee awards after they are referred to the OA, or to put procedures in place to decline campaign
contributions from firms submitting proposals. - Document and disclose the methodology and criteria considered for selecting outside legal and expert witness services.
- Develop a standardized case management system with all relevant information
- Using the new case management system to track costs per case
- Establishing proper segregation of various office functions and duties
Martin's plan to restore integrity to the Attorney General’s office comes after a State Auditor’s audit showed that Attorney General Chris Koster received $170,000 in campaign contributions from law firms bidding on contingency fee contracts. The audit also showed that $4.6 million was spent for legal and expert witness services, but the Attorney General’s office failed to prepare and retain documentation that would show how and why it selected particular attorneys and experts.
Sue Allen, state representative and chair of the Interim Committee of Government Bidding and Contracting added:
“As a Missouri taxpayer and a state representative, I am deeply troubled by the apparent misuse of our tax payer dollars. Auditor Schweich's audit raises more questions than it answers. It is my assessment, based on Schweich's finding that Koster needs to be held more accountable and allow for an independent investigation.”
Another state representative and member of the Bidding committee, Marsha Haefner agreed.
“Voters often have a low opinion of those of us who serve in public office, and many times with good reason. There needs to be a level of accountability from elected officials and all state departments who spend taxpayer money in order to counteract that mistrust. Yet, our current Attorney General is not exactly cooperating when asked to account for $4.6 million in taxpayer dollars.”
Sue Allen, state representative and chair of the Interim Committee of Government Bidding and Contracting added:
“As a Missouri taxpayer and a state representative, I am deeply troubled by the apparent misuse of our tax payer dollars. Auditor Schweich's audit raises more questions than it answers. It is my assessment, based on Schweich's finding that Koster needs to be held more accountable and allow for an independent investigation.”
Another state representative and member of the Bidding committee, Marsha Haefner agreed.
“Voters often have a low opinion of those of us who serve in public office, and many times with good reason. There needs to be a level of accountability from elected officials and all state departments who spend taxpayer money in order to counteract that mistrust. Yet, our current Attorney General is not exactly cooperating when asked to account for $4.6 million in taxpayer dollars.”
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