New Law a Start On Accountability

The Intelligencer (Wheeling, WV)
March 21, 2008
Editorial

A law passed by West Virginia legislators during their special session is a start — but only that — in forcing accountability on the state attorney general’s office. For several years, some lawmakers have complained — as have we — about Attorney General Darrell McGraw’s way of handling some lawsuits filed by his office. Certain “consumer protection” lawsuits, including one against a drug company and another involving credit card firms, won hefty settlements for the state — millions of dollars.

But instead of depositing the proceeds in the state general fund, as he should, McGraw kept the money in the drug company settlement. He doled out millions of dollars to various worthy causes, no doubt gaining popularity that will help him at election time. In the credit card case, McGraw took it upon himself to use a $12.1 million settlement to declare a “sales tax moratorium” for West Virginians. Again, that won’t hurt him on Election Day. Legislators have pointed out that they don’t dispute that money handed out by McGraw’s office goes to worthy causes. But, they add, under our system of government, the Legislature — not the attorney general — is supposed to appropriate money available to the state.

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