To: The Virginia State House and The Virginia State Senate
Virginia Needs Real Ethics Reform Now!
Progress Virginia
Virginia needs real ethics reforms now. H.B. 1211 and S.B. 649 are so full of loopholes that they wouldn't have banned a single gift from Star Scientific and Jonnie Williams. That's just embarrassing for Virginia, and we deserve better.
I'm asking you to work for and vote for real ethics reform legislation that:
- Establishes strict gift limits (no loopholes!).
- Increases enforcement by giving the proposed Ethics Reform Commission real power to investigate complaints and refer them for prosecution.
- Increases penalties so elected officials know there are severe consequences for using public office for private enrichment.
I'm asking you to work for and vote for real ethics reform legislation that:
- Establishes strict gift limits (no loopholes!).
- Increases enforcement by giving the proposed Ethics Reform Commission real power to investigate complaints and refer them for prosecution.
- Increases penalties so elected officials know there are severe consequences for using public office for private enrichment.
Why is this important?
On Tuesday, January 21, federal prosecutors indicted Bob and Maureen McDonnell on charges stemming from the Star Scientific gift scandal. These charges only underscore the need for real ethics reform in Richmond.
Politicians in Richmond will try to pass an empty bill with no real changes so they can keep accepting free dinner, free Redskins tickets, and free trips to France. We deserve better. We deserve better than ethics reform legislation so full of loopholes any elected official could still accept shopping trips, vacations, Rolex watches, and rounds of golf, just like Bob McDonnell.
Politicians in Richmond will try to pass an empty bill with no real changes so they can keep accepting free dinner, free Redskins tickets, and free trips to France. We deserve better. We deserve better than ethics reform legislation so full of loopholes any elected official could still accept shopping trips, vacations, Rolex watches, and rounds of golf, just like Bob McDonnell.