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Wisconsin dairy groups sue state’s Attorney General

Note: This story was updated Thursday evening to add a brief statement from Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Two of Wisconsin’s dairy organizations have sued State Attorney General Josh Kaul.

The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and the Venture Dairy Cooperative have filed a lawsuit against Kaul, challenging his decision to outsource the department’s environmental litigation work. 

Kim Bremer is the Executive Director for Venture Dairy Cooperative. She tells Brownfield, “The Attorney General has taken money from New York University Law Center’s group. It’s a climate center. It’s called the State Energy and Environmental Impact Center, and used that money to hire a special assistant attorney general who is in charge of environmental litigation.” Bremmer says this private contract attorney would have the authority to file complaints and more.

The New York University’s primary funding source is Michael Bloomberg, and it launched the State Energy and Environmental Impact Center in 2017.  Bremer says the privately funded center has a track record of advocating for policies that are harmful to farmers.  She says the cooperative’s members, many of which are large dairies, wanted to proceed with the lawsuit. “The Attorney General really didn’t have the authority to enter into this agreement and it violates constitutional principles, denies due process and equal protection under the law to our farmer members.”

In a statement, President Cindy Leitner with the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance says the Attorney General’s agreement with the New York University State Energy and Environmental Impact Center raises serious questions about the influence of special interest groups on state attorneys.

Officials at the Wisconsin Attorney General’s office could not be reached for comment at publishing time, but a response was issued Thursday evening. Kaul says, “I’m proud of the work the Wisconsin Department of Justice does to protect clean air and clean drinking water. With the harm that pollution causes in many communities across the state, better resourcing the enforcement of our environmental laws shouldn’t be controversial.”

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Calumet County, Wisconsin circuit court.

AUDIO: Kim Bremmer discusses the newly-filed lawsuit against Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.