Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

No Brainer Ethics Reform

—

by

James A. Bacon
in

And goodness and light shall shine throughout the land.
And goodness and light shall shine throughout the land.

It’s nice to see that Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly can agree on something. House Republican Majority Leader Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, and House Democratic Minority Leader David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, unveiled the outlines of their ethics reform plan in an op-ed published in the Times-Dispatch this morning. They will unveil details in a press conference later today. Key elements include:

  • A $250 cap on the value of gifts to elected officials.
  • Establishment of a State Ethics Advisory Commission.
  • Twice-annual financial disclosure.
  • Clarification of terms and greater specificity in disclosure.
  • Mandatory ethics training for elected officials.

These measures amount to “no brainer” ethics reform that no one could disagree with. With the support of senior leaders of both parties, these measures assuredly will sail through the House. I find it unimaginable that the Senate will find anything to object to.

The interesting question is what changes will be enacted in addition to these. For example, Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, has submitted bills calling for the elimination of the General Assembly’s exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act, capping “super-sized” campaign contributions to $20,000 per donor per candidate, and removing incentives for private law firms to over-bill the state when representing the state in a public matter. Those will prove more controversial — fodder for the punditocracy.

— JAB

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2 responses to “No Brainer Ethics Reform”

  1. TMT Avatar
    TMT

    How about limiting self-funding (including “contributions” from immediate family members (spouse, children, parents, siblings) to the same $20 K? That’s real reform with teeth.

  2. larryg Avatar
    larryg

    this don’t sound good:

    “I have spoken to several members and few people in the House Democratic Caucus are aware that there is a deal,” said Surovell, who has filed several ethics bills. “I doubt many members will feel bound by a ‘deal’ that they were not consulted on.”

    you know… the “Virginia Way” was that there would be no limits but that there would always be full disclosure and voters could make up their minds as to the propriety of the money.

    but then McDonnell said it was perfectly legal to receive gifts through a family intermediary and it was a Chef, not the process that disclosed it.

    so apparently the “disclosure” idea only applies to named types of transactions rather than all transactions.

    this is a simple thing.

    ALL transactions – no exceptions – ARE disclosed – within 24 hrs of the transaction – AND if you don’t do it – you are charged with a felony with a mandatory sentence.

    we can fix this but it won’t get fixed by more scummy skulking around by the GA.

    More and more, it becomes apparent just how toothless and impotent Virginia citizens are – without the ability to initiate referenda.

    I guarantee that if Va citizens had the right to initiate referenda, we’d fix this the first time – unlike the feckless GA…

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