West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is getting $1.8 million to improve technology in his office but he says the spending bill passed by state lawmakers Thursday is much more than that.
“This really is a landmark change and I’m really excited that everyone came together, acted in a bipartisan way, to enact such important reform,” Morrisey said.
The money in the bill, nearly $7.5 million, comes from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Fund. Morrisey says the significance is that he worked with the governor and legislature and lawmakers agreed to allocate the money. He says it’s a change from the way the Attorney General’s Office used to work.
“We’re living up to our campaign promises,” the first-term Republican said. “We take the money that comes in and rather than spend it on pet projects, as I see fit, we’re focused on ways to allow the legislature and the governor to make decisions.”
More than half of the $7.5 million is going to the state DHHR and more than $1.6 million to higher education.
AG Morrisey says he is looking forward to taking his office’s portion of the allocation and updating the technology in his office.
“Phones in the attorney general’s office should work,” Morrisey said. “We’ve been relying on a paper-based system. That’s the way the office has been operating for the last 20 years. We’re looking now to utilize the right type of technology, do more in house, and ultimately operate in a more efficient manner.”
Morrisey’s bill didn’t make it before the House of Delegates on the final night of the session. He says he’s thankful the governor and legislative leaders agreed to have it on the special session agenda.
“This is a really positive sign,” Morrisey concluded. “If we can get an agreement on this issue, then I think we can get agreement across the board on issues that really matter to West Virginians.”