As budget writers were debating the budget for the Attorney General’s office, Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, noted that the Legislature is passing another parental consent abortion bill this year. Past legislation on that topic has cost the state hundreds of thousands to defend, unsuccessfully, in court. Hearing that the state’s special litigation fund contains about $2.1 million, Werk asked if the office has enough in reserve to cover more litigation in light of this year's move. “I’m not going to allow questions that are politically loaded,” Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, responded. Werk apologized and said he simply wanted to know if the office had enough in reserve to cover anticipated litigation in the coming year. A staffer for the Attorney General answered yes, based on current projections.

---

---