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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 17, 1992                   TAG: 9201170377
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

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LEGISLATORS REPORT GIFTS TOO

It's a simple equation: Legislators like golf, lobbyists want legislators to like them, so lobbyists give legislators golf.

United Co., a coal mining giant, gave Del. Steven Agee, R-Salem, $310 last year for golf passes, food and a golf glove. RJR Nabisco paid $400 to send Del. Clifton A. "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, to Kentucky to play golf.

Those and other glimpses of the legislative machinery came to light this week when lawmakers filed personal finance reports.

Golf wasn't the only item on the gift list, and private companies weren't the only ones paying. Taxpayers sent dozens of lawmakers on trips last year, though only one from the Roanoke area went.

Woodrum flew to New Orleans for the Southern Legislative Conference at a public cost of $1,137.20 for travel, lodging and expenses.

Overall, the Roanoke delegation was one of the lighter partakers of favors. Two area senators, both freshmen, reported no gifts of more than $200: Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke, and Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle.

The gifts reported by the rest of the delegation are as follows:

Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton: National Association of Realtors, $447.59 travel and food reimbursement for a speech to the national association.

Del. Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke: Virginia Sheriff's Association, $155.38 for food and miscellaneous expenses for trip Jan. 3-6, 1991, to Vicksburg, Miss. (The transportation expense was included in the 1990 report.)

Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville: The United Co., Bristol. $432 total for trip to Southwest Virginia coal mines.

Staff writer Bonnie V. Winston contributed to this story.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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