The View From Over Here
Have you followed the sordid story of now ex-Governor Bob McDonnell and former First Greedy Maureen McDonnell? They’ve both been indicted, each on 14 counts of corruption, fraud, lying, and coverup whilte taking $175,000 in cash, luxury wardrobes, fancy wedding receptions, trips and more in exchange for helping a wealthy businessman promote his questionable dietary supplements. Perhaps more disturbing than the sleaze and gross violations of public trust by the McDonnells is the reaction of the political class in Richmond—in particular those who make up the state legislature gathered there to write our laws. The indictments are the talk of the town. Some legislators, such as the Republican leader of the House of Delegates and Democratic Leader in the Senate, even tell the prosecutor about McDonnell’s sterling character. They are shocked at the misunderstanding about a few gifts! This reaction isn’t be too surprising among pols in a government given an F rating in a recent national study of corruption risk. The study gave the good ol’ boy and girl pols in Richmond F grades for ethics enforcement, lobbying disclosure, legislative accountability, executive accountability, and the like. Other politicians are calling for “ethics reform”. What needs to be reformed? How about the rules governing gift giving? For example, there are no limits on gifts to elected officials, only an unenforced disclosure requirement, and even that does not apply to family members. Likewise there are no limits on campaign contributions, only a supposed disclosure rule with no enforcement. And, the mainstream media, such as it is, assures readers that because of the McDonnells’ scandal, reform is assured in this legislative session. Good luck! Only the new Governor has taken serious action so far. To his credit, Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order just after his inauguration, banning gifts over $100 to executive branch officials and establishing an ethics commission to enforce the order. In the legislature, a so-called “bi-partisan reform proposal” by the House Majority Leader (R) and House Minority Leader (D) is typically ineffectual. It would limit gifts of legislators to $250, require disclosure but no limits for family members, and an ethics staff with no enforcement power. Other legislators propose studies of ethics reform to be considered at some future time. Sen. Chap Petersen (D), with support from Del. Scott Surovel (D), is proposing some stronger medicine featuring greater public access to information through FOIA and and ethics commission with subpoena power. Not strong enough. And none of them is addressing campaign finance rules where money sloshes around with no limits on giving, and no limits on how donations are used. There is in fact no likelihood of real reform this year. It won’t happen until there is sweeping change of the political class in Richmond and the culture of receiving they all so enjoy. The fact is the ones I talk to do not seem to see anything wrong with taking the $250 Redskin luxury suite tickets from Dominion Power, or the trip to France from the uranium miners, or a trip to Turkey and so forth from those with special interests. One Senator told me in fact that she would support reform, but that I should remember that it had been a very long time since a Senator’s admittedly inadequate $18,000 salary had been increased. What the Senator seems to be saying is that the low pay (which the legislators set for themselves!) entitles them to all manner of gifts from special interests to supplement it. Even guilty verdicts and justice in the form of prison time for the McDonnells will not bring serious ethics reform in Richmond. Only a change of culture and those who fill those seats in Richmond is likely to accomplish that and begin to restore public trust.
