Supports Legislation That Would Shine Light on Organizations Using Taxpayer Dollars to Fund Political Agendas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso joined Senate colleagues to introduce companion legislation to the “Open EAJA Act of 2010” authored by Representative Cynthia Lummis.  This legislation requires transparency measures for payments made to organizations through the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).

“If organizations are profiting by suing the federal government, American taxpayers deserve to know about it.  This common sense legislation would require the Department of Justice to account for taxpayer funds paid to legal plaintiffs who sue the government. 

“In the face of activist lawsuits and exorbitant attorney fees, we need transparent accounting for taxpayer dollars awarded in court cases.  Transparency is especially important for environmental litigation, where organizations and individuals championing political issues are frequently subsidized with taxpayer dollars under EAJA.   Independent studies indicate that tens of millions of dollars have been paid to environmental plaintiffs. 

“It’s time to shine a light on these payments.  By originally introducing this bill, Representative Lummis has taken an important step to help prevent abuse of the system.  Her legislation would expose efforts by activist groups to use taxpayer dollars to fund their political agenda.  I am proud to be a part of the Senate effort supporting her work.”

Background:

On March 2, 2010, Rep. Cynthia Lummis introduced the “Open EAJA Act of 2010.”  S.3122 is the Senate companion version.

H.R. 4717 and S.3122 would require public reporting of payments to all plaintiffs, regardless of issue or organization, under the Equal Access to Justice Act.  This requirement was included in the act as passed in 1980, but has not applied since 1996.