ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 6, 1997 TAG: 9701060080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Gov. George Allen is taking aim at government ethics and will propose that all government officials report any gifts they receive worth $25 or more.
Now, disclosures are necessary only for gifts over $200.
The governor will formally unveil the ethics package Wednesday night when he addresses the opening of the General Assembly.
Allen also will propose that lobbyists disclose the names of officials, including lawmakers and executive branch officials, they entertain in groups of 10 or fewer.
Finally, the Republican governor would require officials to report the exact amount of their compensation when they represent clients before state government commissions. Now, the officials only have to check off a box that states the amount was less than or more than $10,000.
``We need adequate disclosure to maintain the integrity'' of state government, Allen said Saturday. ``My proposals are designed to provide greater disclosure letting people know what is being spent and who is receiving it.''
Allen acknowledged that his ethics package will face tough opposition in the assembly during its 46-day session.
``It is bucking a trend in the legislature,'' he said. ``It's going to be very difficult to get this through the legislature.''
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, questioned whether Allen would be going too far in requiring that small gifts be reported.
``I think you can get rules where they don't make any sense,'' said Cranwell.
Last year, 1,462 people registered to lobby and spent $7.8 million on lobbying activities, said Betsy Davis Beamer, the secretary of the commonwealth.
The governor's proposals, if approved by the assembly, would affect about 20,000 people in the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLYby CNB