The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation 9:30 a.m. Thursday from State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey about the budget needs of the Attorney General’s Office.
Morrisey is asking for $4.48 million to be appropriated to the Attorney General’s Office from the budget, as opposed to Governor Justice’s proposed appropriation of $4.44 million.
Morrisey said the extra funds will be used to provide enough reserves to handle “unpredictable” cases that may either end in a settlement or go to an expensive trial.
In the end, Morrisey said the requested appropriation will also help the Attorney General’s Office to stay with in-house counsel and take in the Medicaid Fraud Unit to be “more aggressive” in fighting Medicaid fraud–both of which, Morrisey said, will save money for the state and its taxpayers.
Senate Finance will meet 3 p.m. Thursday in room 451M.
