ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701130041
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE and DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITERS
A blank expression fell across Senate Republican Leader Joseph Benedetti's face when a reporter asked if the General Assembly will consider a package of changes in ethics laws this winter.
"Evidently," he said, "you guys don't have anything else to write about."
The call for ethics reforms - sounded by Gov. George Allen and the media - has gotten a mostly underwhelming response from lawmakers who gathered in Richmond last week for the start of their annual law-writing session.
Members of the General Assembly are planning a voluntary, 21/2-hour workshop Monday to discuss campaign disclosure laws and the ethical responsibilities of public office.
But where legislation is concerned, Allen probably will become the second consecutive governor to discover that the General Assembly leaders are content with ethics laws that are among the most lax in the nation.
``They're already convinced they are doing the right thing. They are insulted by the suggestion that changes are needed,'' said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist who served on then-Gov. Douglas Wilder's ethics committee in the early 1990s.
"Without public demand for change, ethical standards will not be raised."
Virginia lawmakers say their ethical house is in order, but that they are being tarred by scandal in Washington - be it House Speaker Newt Gingrich's ethical lapse or President Clinton's fund-raising techniques.
But momentum for Virginia reforms also is being driven by revelations of loopholes in state disclosure laws, which are intended to let voters know if lawmakers are being influenced improperly or using public office for private gain.
"Our commonwealth has some of the weakest disclosure laws in the country," Allen said during his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday. "We can certainly do better. In fact, we have an obligation to do so."
A special subcommittee of the House Privileges and Elections Committee will recommend this week that lawmakers be prohibited from accepting campaign contributions while the General Assembly is in session.
The ban would cover all 140 state legislators, and also would extend to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the attorney general.
Those lawmakers not only would be barred from accepting money, but from soliciting it, as well. That would mean lobbyists and special interests could not write checks to the political parties while their issues are playing out in the legislature.
And the governor, who keeps a full schedule of meetings during much of the legislative session, could not allow Executive Mansion receptions to become fund-raising events.
Critics of the proposed rules say they are no more influenced by contributions in January and February than during any other months of the year. But the perception of a problem is enough for some lawmakers to call for change.
"Accepting contributions while we're in session simply reinforces the public's cynicism about politics," said Del. John ``Butch'' Davies, D-Culpeper.
"People do not believe we can take someone's money and then vote on legislation that affects them with an objective eye. It's that appearance that creates the impropriety."
On Thursday, Allen submitted two proposals that would require lawmakers and lobbyists to disclose more of the meals they share and gifts they exchange.
When lobbyists disclose entertainment expenses under current law, they can exclude the most illuminating piece of information: The names of lawmakers who receive free food and drink.
Allen wants lobbyists to name names when they entertain fewer than 10 lawmakers or administration officials at a time. Any gift worth more than $25 would have to be disclosed.
Legislators, in turn, would have to report any gift they receive worth $25 or more, down from the $200 cutoff imposed now. Sen. Kevin Miller, a Harrisonburg Republican and chairman of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, predicted the measure will pass, but probably with a threshold of $100 or more.
Also under Allen's proposals, lawmakers who are paid to represent businesses before state agencies would have to estimate their exact compensation. Under current law, legislators simply have to check one of two boxes: ``$1,000 to $10,000'' or ``$10,000 or more."
The proposed change is in response to the uproar caused last year when Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield disclosed it had paid more than $350,000 to House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell's law firm. Cranwell, a Vinton Democrat, represented Trigon in its bid to become a for-profit company.
Cranwell, who was the target of criticism even though he filled out his statement of economic interest form correctly, said he would support the measure.
Another proposal the legislature will consider this year would require the state Board of Elections to accept computerized campaign finance reports. Supporters say the change not only would reduce paperwork, but also would make the reports less cumbersome to examine and monitor.
The bill would require the Election Board to buy $70,000 to $100,000 worth of software with its own money, but using the service would be voluntary for election candidates.
"I think most people will start using it instantly, anyway," Davies said. "There are some who just aren't comfortable with the technology, though. This will give them some time to get used to it."
No changes suggested so far in the 46-day lawmaking session would increase scrutiny of how lawmakers spend their campaign funds. Some lobbyists say they suspect a handful of legislators use campaign money to subsidize their private business ventures, or pocket a $9,000 taxpayer-funded office allowance.
"Members of the General Assembly are like any group. Are they going to inconvenience themselves unless they really have to? Of course not," Sabato said. "They might throw a bone here or a bone there."
But some members, including Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, fear that media emphasis on disclosure laws will only reinforce the public's distrust of elected officials. Requiring additional disclosure, he said, would entangle lawmakers in paperwork without any clear benefit to the public.
"People have a poor perception of politicians, anyway," Trumbo said.
To leave a message for state legislators, call (800)889-0229 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays. To track the status of bills, visit our General Assembly Web site at www.roanoke.com
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