State and local government officials would be subject to more restrictive ethics rules under separate bills that have passed both houses of the General Assembly. The measures lower the cap on gifts that officials may accept from $250 to $100, and remove the distinction between tangible and intangible gifts, such as travel or meals. However, the legislation may not completely have Governor McAuliffe’s seal of approval.
The bills also require an ethics advisory panel to pre-approve official travel. However, Delegate Scott Surovell said they lack the governor’s proposal for an independent commission with investigative authority.
“Until we have a real body that comes in here and looks at these things independently and has subpoena power, and that is required to do audits, the only time anyone is ever going to get caught, is either when there’s a whistleblower or they get caught up in some other ancillary thing and somebody stumbles into it.”
But bill sponsor Delegate Todd Gilbert said that’s the role of impartial grand juries.
“And my contention has been throughout this debate as to this independent commission-that it will not be independent, that it will not be nonpartisan, that it will be used only to settle political scores.”
The bills also prohibit the governor from accepting campaign contributions from companies seeking Governor’s Opportunity Fund grants. McAuliffe vetoed that last year.
