St. Paul, MN - Yesterday, the House Rules Committee approved more than $10,000 in taxpayer funds to pay for the legal fees of Rep. Bianca Virnig, DFL-Eagan, who was entangled in a legal dispute with her private employer. The dispute resulted in Rep. Virnig hiring private legal counsel who then settled with the employer out of court.
In yesterday’s committee hearing, DFLers voted to force Minnesota taxpayers to cover the legal bills which amounted to more than $10,000. During questioning, DFL members of the committee could not share the terms or amount of the legal settlement, nor could they adequately explain why the taxpayers should pay for the fees instead of Rep. Virnig with the amount won from the settlement.
“It is completely unacceptable for Democrats to use a lame-duck session of the House Rules Committee to force through more $10,000 of taxpayers’ dollars to pay for a legislator’s legal fees that arose as part of a private dispute between an employee and an employer,” said Rep. Dave Baker, R-Willmar. “To be clear, employers need to follow state law, but it is unprecedented and a misuse of tax dollars for the state to pay for a legislator’s legal fees following a private employment dispute. Minnesotans are sick and tired of special treatment given to politicians and the lack of respect shown for their hard-earned tax dollars. This type of sweetheart deal will stop on January 14th when a new legislature takes the oath of office and balance is finally restored to St. Paul.”
###