Virginia lawmakers must clean up their act
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Version 0 of 1. VIRGINIA’S VACUUM in public ethics was laid bare two years ago in the matter of former governor Robert F. McDonnell (R), who failed to break a single state law despite his sticky-palmed profligacy. The Supreme Court is now deliberating the question of whether his greed and poor judgment met the definition of bribery under federal corruption statutes. In the meantime, officials in Richmond are still wrestling with the concept of what constitutes a freebie — and, gee, does that really mean we can’t take those luxury-box tickets to see Washington’s NFL team? In three consecutive sessions of the state legislature, including the one that ended recently, lawmakers have done their best to tweak the rules to send the message that they take public ethics seriously — but not so seriously that all the bennies of elective office are eliminated. True, the post-McDonnell $100 limit on gifts from lobbyists seems to have been the death knell for those luxury hunting trips worth tens of thousands of dollars, courtesy of fat-cat influence peddlers, which the Senate majority leader, Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City), once regarded as practically his birthright. Still, gaping loopholes in the law leave plenty of room for shenanigans. For instance, everyone agrees that gifts from lobbyists to officials and legislators now cannot exceed $100 annually. As for PACs affiliated with lobbyists, well, the sky still seems to be the limit. How that squares with the spirit of the law is anyone’s guess; in our view, it doesn’t. Just as vexing is the question of why lawmakers, as well as Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), have allowed a further loophole in the $100 gift limit for “widely attended” events, such as tickets to pro and college sporting events, golf tournaments, concerts and other similar happenings. Although Mr. McAuliffe originally warned that the loophole would give rise to problems, he defended his own commerce secretary, Maurice Jones, when he received free luxury-box tickets to see Washington’s pro football team, on the grounds that it amounted to an economic development opportunity for his businessmen guests. Chris Piper, then the executive director of the state ethics council, whose members are appointed by the legislature as well as the governor’s office, signed off on that. Now Mr. Piper has been relieved of his duties by the commission, supposedly because officials were surprised he turned out not to be a lawyer — though he never said he was. The commission is advisory and essentially toothless, lacking any investigative or subpoena power of its own. Since its establishment in 2015, it has been silent on thorny issues, including the personal use of campaign funds, which enables legislators such as Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), to do his grocery shopping without the trouble of dipping into his own pocket. Virginia needs to clean up its act, which would entail enacting a bright-line rule that allows lawmakers and officials to accept no freebies from those who might seek to influence them. That would make them just like ordinary mortals — which is what they most certainly are. Read more on this topic: The Post’s View: Baby steps on ethics in Va. The Post’s View: Virginia’s ethical vacuum The Post’s View: The Supreme Court may clear McDonnell. But Virginians won’t forget his sleaze. |