(SitNews) - Alaska Democratic Representatives Sam Kito (D-Juneau) and Les Gara (D-Anchorage) said there is still time to get out of the expensive medicaid expansion lawsuit contract. Thursday, they called on the Alaska Legislative Council to drop the lawsuit filed against Alaska Governor Bill Walker over his decision to accept federal funding to provide healthcare to thousands of hard-working Alaskans. Dropping the Medicaid expansion lawsuit will save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars on a legal contract that is excessive and above market rates.

“Based on the actions by the Alaska Superior and Supreme Courts, we should drop this lawsuit and save the state money,” said Rep. Kito, who serves on the Legislative Council and voted against the contract. Rep. Kito also voted against suing the Governor over Medicaid expansion. “If they will not drop the lawsuit, they should at least renegotiate the contract so the Legislature receives pro bono or more reasonably priced services.”

“Paying a law firm a $100,000 signing bonus is excessive in a time of budget deficits. Paying a law firm $450,000 for a basic case that essentially involves straightforward legal research and writing is also excessive,” said Rep. Gara. “Since this contract has not yet been executed, the Legislative Council can still stop the signing bonus by dropping this wasteful lawsuit, finding a law firm that will work cheaper, or finding a volunteer law firm that will work pro-bono just like the Governor did.”

The Legislative Affairs Agency had confirmed, as of Thursday, the contract has not been “executed,” so the $100,000 signing bonus that’s part of the $450,000 contract does not yet apply.

Rep. Gara is a former attorney and Assistant Alaska Attorney General. He contacted a former Alaska judge and litigator who confirmed that the legal contract is excessively priced.

On the Web:

Download the Professional services contract between the Alaska Legislative Council and Bancroft, PLLC
http://www.sitnews.us/0915News/091215/Bancroft.pdf

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

REP. SAM KITO III
www.repsamkito iii.com

REP. LES GARA
www.replesgara.com

Alaska Independent Coalition
www.akdemocrats.org

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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