DWIGHT EVANS, MEMBER 12-£ MAIN CAPITOL BUILDING (CHAIRMAN HARRISBURG PA 17120-2020, MIRIAM A. FOX PHONE: (717) 783-1540 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FAX: (717) 707-2334 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA March 24, 2010 Hand De red The Honorable Tom Corbett, Jr. Attorney General Office of Attorney General Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 16" Floor, Strawberry Square Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Dear General Corbett: During the last two budget cycles, you testified before the House Appropriations Committee about how budget cuts to the Office of the Attorney General negatively affect your ability to operate effectively and efficiently. In fact, when arguing for a two percent increase for the 2010/11 budget, you specifically stated that without an increase, you would cut 21 positions, including investigators and staff attorneys. What's more, you testified the Office of the Attorney General already was stretched thin by its existing caseload. To that end, | am troubled by your decision to pursue a lawsuit against President Obama's health care plan which was signed into law yesterday. Given the state’s fragile economic situation, which already has affected your office, | do not believe itis prudent to spend taxpayer dollars on such a suit. Constitutional experts already say this lawsuit has little chance of success. Pennsylvanians are better served when the Office of the Attorney General focuses its efforts within the Commonwealth, as you have done for many years. Gun violence, drug investigations, consumer fraud and stopping child predators are more appropriate pursuits. | urge you to reconsider your decision, which on the surface appears to be purely political. But to the extent you choose to move forward, | must take action as well and ask for an addendum to the testimony you provided to the House Appropriations Committee on February 2, 2010.The Honorable Tom Corbett, Jr. Attorney General March 24, 2010 Page 2 ‘+ Please provide a detailed report to the Appropriations Committee on all actual and related costs that your office will absorb as a result of the lawsuit. * The report should include, but not be limited to: describing the number of staff assigned to the suit, their roles and the cost to taxpayers; * It should also describe in detail how people and financial resources will be shifted from other areas as you pursue the lawsuit. Please have the information forwarded to my office by close of business on Monday, March 29, 2010 so | may share it with members of the committee. Sincerely, DWIGHT EVANS Majority Chairman cc: The Honorable William F. Adolph Jr Minority Chairman, House Appropriations Committee