HOW MUCH IS EN0UGH? In Reynolds v. McInnes, 338 F.3d 1201, the court notes that this discrimination suit, and the resulting enforcement of the consent decree has been pretty expensive for the citizens of Alabama. The case has been going on for 18 years. $50 million has been spent on attorney fees from the public funds. $62.5 million has been spent on experts. That brings the total litigation cost to about $112 million dollars, which continues to cost the state $500,000 per month. That is not all. In resisting the consent decree, the state has paid $13 million in contempt fines, and continues at about $250,000 per month. So, that makes it $125 million dollars in funds from the Alabama taxpayers. On top of all that (yes! there is more!), the state has already paid $56.8 million into a settlement fund. The grand total is $222 million dollars. Wow.

The governor of Alabama has been considering a massive tax increase. Here is my suggestion. Abide by the consent decree and end the case. You immediately save $1.5 million per month.