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Ethics Issues in the Spotlight

State Republicans are responding to a call by one of their own for a special session on ethics reform in light of the scandals now plaguing both the Governor's office and the gubernatorial campaign. 

Governor McDonnell had already declined the request by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to call a special session. Now House GOP leaders say they also prefer to wait until January’s regular session to take up ethics reform. 

But in the meantime, McDonnell's right-hand, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, announced through his Virginia Mainstream Project some steps that could be taken now.  He proposes expanded gift reporting, disclosure of board memberships, investments and loans, and bans on gifts in excess of $250 and the use of campaign funds for personal expenditures.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe commends Bolling’s call to action, but prefers a ban on gifts of more than 100-dollars. He calls Cuccinelli's request for a special ethics session "another gimmick." He’s also asking the AG to return the gifts he received from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams.

Cuccinelli is calling on McAuliffe to disclose his financial records from his former e-car company GreenTech, now that it's linked to two federal investigations.

 

Tommie McNeil is a State Capitol reporter who has been covering Virginia and Virginia politics for more than a decade. He originally hails from Maryland, and also doubles as the evening anchor for 1140 WRVA in Richmond.
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