Van Hollen touts use of GOP 'core priorities' at DOJ

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen opened his address to the convention by recalling his trip to the 1980 Republican Nation Convention, where, as a 14-year old, he watched the party nominate Ronald Reagan.

"We didn't talk about getting back to our priorities then," Van Hollen. "We governed with our core priorities."

Van Hollen said the state Department of Justice is now committed to those priorities, including enhancing public safety, taking pedophiles off the streets, and removing criminals residing illegally in the state.

In addition, Van Hollen said his department has pursued no frivolous lawsuits, reduced the crime lab backlog, and returned $1.2 million to state coffers.

"We are being fiscally responsible," Van Hollen said. "That is our core principle."


Listen to Van Hollen's speech.

-- By Andy Szal