(Washington, D.C.) – The more than 11,500 members and supporters of Massachusetts Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) were stunned at the announcement by Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly that the state will appeal the decision of U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in the Microsoft antitrust trial.  CAGW immediately chastised Reilly’s decision as a waste of taxpayer resources.

“The federal government has been pursuing this case for five years and finally reached a court approved settlement,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Judge Kollar-Kotelly made it quite clear in her decision that  the remedies the remaining nine states and the District of Columbia were seeking were too harsh.  It is time to bring closure to this issue, and allow the technology sector to move on to new, innovative ideas.”

In his announcement Mr. Reilly stated that Massachusetts would seek reimbursement from Microsoft for the more than $700,000 it has spent so far on this case.  In January 2002, CAGW filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with all nine states and the District of Columbia that were still pursuing the case.  In response, a letter from AG Reilly’s office stated that a search would be conducted of related records and CAGW would later be notified of the results.  To date, CAGW has not received such information.

“Finally, we have an idea of how much of the taxpayers’ money Massachusetts in risking here,” continued Schatz.  “Asking for reimbursement does not guarantee that the state will receive it.  Costs of continuing the case will only escalate as AG Reilly continues to appeal.  The state has already factored in a $2 billion deficit into the budget for fiscal year 2004.  This is not the time for Mr. Reilly to be risking more taxpayer money.”

In a statement made earlier today, AG Reilly claimed that he was appealing the case because he wanted to hold Microsoft accountable for its actions and that “breaking the law does not pay.”

“Who is holding Attorney General Reilly accountable?” concluded Schatz.  “The federal government and nine other states have already determined in a settlement agreed upon by the court on an appropriate and tough remedy for Microsoft.  In an era of larger concerns, especially those relating to homeland security, it is time for AG Reilly to move on and devote the resources he is putting into this case elsewhere.  The taxpayers of Massachusetts deserve better.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.