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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


1.24.2007

 

AG report card

Attorney General William Sorrell, who joined with AGs around the country to sue and win a settlement with big tobacco companies worth millions of dollars, has been taken to task for this effort in a just-released study sponsored by the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Sorrell was ranked seventh among the top ten worst AGs in a study by Hans Bader for CEI. Bader argues Sorrell and the other offending AGs have made a practice of exceeding the powers of their offices.

"Few attorneys general have done more damage to the fabric of the law than William Sorrell," Bader's article begins. Ouch! Bader complains that Sorrell successfully convinced the Legislature to pass a law that made tobacco companies retroactively liable for the state's Medicaid expenses for Vermonters with smoking-related illnesses. This was the basis for the lawsuit that Vermont and other states pursued with tobacco companies. The result was a settlement. Vermont now receives roughly $25 million a year in settlement payments from tobacco companies and beginning next year, will get an extra $10 million a year for a decade.

Bader argues this law sets a dangerous precedent for other businesses with products that could be alleged to have ill effects on public health.

I don't think Sorrell regrets what he did, but Bader thinks he should. Bader also criticizes Sorrell for joining other AGs in "meritless, overreaching global warming suits against out-of-state utilities and the Environmental Protection Agency."

To check out this study for yourself, go here.

-- Nancy Remsen

Comments:
"Sorrell successfully convinced the Legislature to pass a law "


Gimme a break.
 
Who is CEI you may ask? (You might hope a reporter would ask, anyway) Hardly an objective party, but a hard right think-tank funded by Richard Scaife, Philip Morris, ExxonMobil, etc. etc.
A little background on the group making the 'list' would put such a sensational accusation in perspective. Isn't that what reporters are supposed to do?
 
Bill Sorrell is certainly a terrible attorney general. There have attorney's disbarred in this state for less incompetence. His record of defending state laws is poor at best. His prosecution record isn't much better. Remember, this is the guy whose last big case as Chittenden State's Attorney was giving murderer Frank Malinoski a great plea bargain because his office bungled the original case to begin with. The only reason Sorrell has survived so long is that his mother, Esther Sorrell, paved a golden path for him.
 
The tobacco money alone has done amazing things for Vermonters.

We should all be saying, "THANKS BILL !!!!"
 
It is very risky for a practicing attorney to take on a sitting AG. Losing carries many risks for the attorney and his/her clients.
 
Why don't the Republicans launch a strong campaign for Attorney General? Vermont deserves better!!!
 
or even the Progressive party!
 
Statewide, Progressive Party always comes in third.

If you want to topple a popular incumbent, don't send a Prog to do a man's job.
 
GBT, facts are facts.

I'm sorry that you don't like the facts, but all the same, Progs always come in third.
 
There isn't a Prog in the state who could beat Sorrell.
 
Is there a Prog in the state that could get into law school?

Perhaps only one or two.
 
Progs don't want to go to law school or find solutions - they just want to rant.
 
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