The fat lady has sung herself hoarse, but they aren't listening.

Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today blasted those attorneys general who declined to join with other states and the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) in settling the long-running Microsoft antitrust case.

"The economy's sinking, the technology sector is in trouble, the nation is at war, and some attorneys general are continuing their vendetta against a leader of the new economy," CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  "The Microsoft litigation's complete settlement would benefit both consumers and taxpayers by bringing certainty to the marketplace and encouraging new investment in technology.  Most importantly, closure in this case would free up crucial legal and financial resources for the nation's war against terrorism." 

"For those attorneys general who have made the sensible decision to settle this case, CAGW and its one million members and supporters nationwide applaud their common sense and care for tax dollars," Schatz added.  "After spending more than $35 million to date at the federal and state level, citizens are right to be angry at those government officials who persist in pursuing Microsoft.  Working families have watched their portfolios nosedive since the district court's decisions last June, and know that a settlement would be good for the economy." 

"The Department of Justice and most of the states can read the writing on the wall.  Why can't these remaining attorneys general?" Schatz added.  "The attorneys general who remain in this case appear more concerned about Microsoft's competitor's welfare than that of their own consumers and taxpayers."

"With states and local governments facing unprecedented expenditures to prevent future acts of terrorism and to protect their citizens as part of the homeland security now required in the United States, taxpayer resources must be focused on those immediate priorities.  The attorneys general that have decided to spend additional tax dollars on the Microsoft litigation are not serving the best interests of state residents.  CAGW members in those states will make these officials aware of their displeasure with this ill-advised decision," Schatz said.

“Pursuit of this matter is particularly wasteful since the same judge that would approve the settlement between DOJ and Microsoft is presiding over the state litigation.  There is little chance that she would come up with a dramatically different conclusion next year, since separate remedies would be unworkable for Microsoft and the entire technology sector.  CAGW hopes that the state attorneys general recognize the abject futility of their actions, which may serve some unknown political goal, but no practical purpose,” Schatz concluded.”

CAGW is the nation's largest taxpayer advocacy group with over one million members and supporters nationwide.  It is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.