January 30, 2007

Dear Ms. Reilly,

The Associated Press story you carried today exposing hidden contracts (“Calif. attorney general’s office improperly hid millions in contracts" - pasted below) clearly underscores the need for reform of Attorney General contracting oversight. Through its investigation, AP found that millions of California taxpayer dollars were handed out through no-bid contracts – many to friends and supporters to then-Attorney General Bill Lockyer – but hidden through misuse of a “confidential” label that protected the contracts from public scrutiny or legislative oversight.

Clearly, the citizens of California deserve honesty and openness in how their tax dollars are spent, especially by our state's "top cop," and I hope you will consider writing on this matter. With Jerry Brown’s recent inauguration as Attorney General, California stands poised for reform to add transparency to Justice Department contracting. This is the very kind of problem we hope that Attorney General Brown will work to solve.

If I may be of any assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely, Diann H. Rogers

President, CCCALA

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