Taxpayers are stuck with the legal bills for Minnesota state rep Bianca Virnig’s employment issues. The state legislature approved $10,391.40 in legal fees for Virnig, a state representative installed by special election last summer.
The legal fees stemmed from Virnig’s dispute with her employer, BrightWorks, which provides services to the school district. Virnig claimed the nonprofit cut her hours after she devoted her time to campaigning and holding office.
Virnig was unsuccessful for her first run for office. Like many democratic candidates, she then ran for ISD 196’s school board and won after receiving an endorsement from the district’s teachers’ union. She was part of an entire board comprised of teachers’ union-endorsed candidates, which approved pay raises for teachers and staff, special “bonuses” for administrators, and large budget increases.