THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607240003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 20 lines
House Democratic Leader C. Richard Cranwell of Vinton was asked by your reporter what he thinks of lobbyists wining and dining House leaders with no requirement to name to whom they have provided free meals (news, July 12). Cranwell's response was that reporters and groups like Common Cause make too much of a few free meals. ``When we're talking about the price of a meal or the price of a cocktail, it's a matter of common courtesy that people do all the time,'' said Cranwell.
Does Cranwell extend that courtesy to lobbyists? Has Cranwell ever paid the bill? Does he pay every other bill for meals with lobbyists out of ``common courtesy''?
RAYMOND CICIRELLI
Portsmouth, July 13, 1996 by CNB