$10M+: Idaho Outside Counsel Cost

Idaho state agencies are spending more than $10 million a year on outside legal counsel when they could be saving money by using the Idaho Attorney General’s office, according to a new performance evaluation released this afternoon by the Office of Performance Evaluations. The full report is online here . It highlights three areas where the state has opportunities to “in-source” legal work and save big bucks: The Department of Health & Welfare, which spends more than $3 million a year on outside lawyers; the Idaho Transportation Department, which spends more than $2.7 million a year; and the state Department of Administration, which spends nearly $2 million a year. Those three agencies account for 76 percent of the state’s spending on outside lawyers, the report found/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Is it time for legislative leaders rein in ideologues who push for outside counsel because they don’t like AG’s response to their unconstitutional stands?