OKLAHOMA CITY - Attorney General John O’Connor is joining a coalition of state attorneys general in a letter to the National Association of Attorneys General expressing serious concerns and inviting discussion on how to address them.
“NAAG was created to function as a nonpartisan forum, however, recent topics and events indicate otherwise,” said Attorney General O’Connor. “The association is increasingly favoring left-wing members and alienating more conservative ones. NAAG must take immediate steps to fix and avoid partisanship. It is only fair that all states are equally represented.”
The attorneys general call on NAAG to develop a structural reform to avoid partisanship. The letter describes the need for a complete reevaluation of the regional governance and programming structure. For example, the letter states “NAAG’s presidency should rotate annually, with the president and president-elect being of different political parties.”
In addition, the coalition says, “there needs to be greater transparency prior to NAAG receiving, holding, and expending certain kinds of funds.” The attorneys general ask for NAAG to clarify how its settlement dollars “belong” to its members.
The letter also acknowledges how NAAG is increasing partisan programming and is excluding conservative members in favor of more left-wing members. This concern is directly tied to how NAAG operates three “fund committees” that administer millions of dollars of settlement proceeds.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office has long valued its NAAG membership, but this appreciation can only last as long as NAAG is truly committed to bipartisanship.
Attorney General O’Connor was joined by attorneys general from Kentucky, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia.
