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In Iowa, GOP Lawmakers May Restrict Democratic AG's Power to Sue Trump

Tom Miller, as the state's chief legal officer, joined six lawsuits in 2018 that were initiated in other states seeking to block many of Trump's policies.

By Barbara Rodriguez

Iowa Republicans have proposed new restrictions on the state's Democratic attorney general to prevent him from joining lawsuits that target President Donald Trump's administration. 

Tom Miller, as the state's chief legal officer, joined six lawsuits in 2018 that were initiated in other states seeking to block many of Trump's policies, including separating families on the southern U.S. border and requiring citizenship information in the 2020 census.

Miller’s office also has joined other states in signing on to about 26 amicus briefs and 50 letters to federal agencies challenging the Trump administration's actions, according to the attorney general’s office. The office estimates its cost of participating falls between $7,500 and $10,000.

But Republicans say the efforts are partisan.

"We have a Republican governor, we have a Republican Legislature, and we have had an attorney general that has been going outside of the state taking part in lawsuits that are the complete antithesis to the agenda that the governor and the Legislature has set," said Rep. Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake.

Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for Miller’s office, said he was unaware of any lawsuits the office joined in targeting the actions of Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration.

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