Taffora
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen's top aide has resigned.
Ray Taffora, who has served as deputy attorney general since Van Hollen took office in 2006, told The Associated Press he told Van Hollen he wanted to serve only one term, believing people should work in government for "a limited time."
The Republican Van Hollen just defeated his Democratic opponent in this month's general election, Scott Hassett, with nearly 58 percent of the vote.
Taffora told the AP he plans to leave office by Jan. 14. He said he doesn't know what he'll do next.
Van Hollen says Special Assistant Attorney General Kevin St. John will move into the deputy spot.
The news of Taffora's resignation comes a week after Wisconsin Gov.-elect Scott Walker gave Van Hollen's office the green light to join a federal lawsuit against President Barack Obama's health care reform package.
The attorney general had requested permission to join the suit in the spring but was denied by state officials, most of whom were Democrats.
The lawsuit argues that requiring citizens to either have insurance or pay a fine violates states' rights.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.