VPAP

Lobbyist Registrations

VPAP posted 20 lobbyist registrations provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The last update was February 1.

Legislators' Gift Disclosures

Updated 2/8/2012

VALUE OF GIFTS CONTINUES TO CLIMB

The number of gifts and free trips that General Assembly members report has declined in recent years, while the average value of gifts reported has soared to $450 from $300 in the last three years.

The recent surge in value is driven by increased trips, particularly overseas travel:

In a cost-cutting move, the General Assembly cut back on taxpayer funds spent to send legislators to professional conferences. Conference sponsors, particularly the American Legislative Exchange Council, have picked up the cost.
In 2010 and 2011, Virginia Uranium paid all expenses for 16 legislators for travel to France and Canada to tour mine and processing facilities. The cost of the French trip, which included two days in Paris, cost more than $10,000 for some legislators and their spouses.
Legislators more frequently take advantage of "cultural exhange" programs with foreign counties that offer free trips. In 2010, for example, the American Turkish Friendship Association flew 11 legislators -- four accompanied by spouses -- to Istanbul for a fact-finding trip.

Under Virginia law, General Assembly members can accept personal gifts in any amount, provided they disclose any worth more than $50.

Updated Feb. 7

Members of the 2012 General Assembly accepted almost a quarter million dollars worth of free meals, tickets to athletic events, trips and other freebies last year, according to legislators' annual disclosure forms.

Virginia Uranium accounted for nearly half the total dollar amount by spending $120,000 to take legislators -- many accompanied by spouses -- on fact-finding trips to Canada and France. The company is seeking state permission to mine a uranium deposit near Chatham, in Pittsylvania County.

Top Gift Givers

Top Recipients -- All Gifts

Top Recipients - Meals

Top Recipients - Sporting Events

Top Recipients - Conferences/Meeting/Travel

Under Virginia law, General Assembly members can accept personal gifts in any amount, provided they disclose any worth more than $50.

Press Coverage

Lawmaker: Trip to France dissuaded him on uranium mining (Virginian-Pilot)

Va. legislators accepted $246,000 in gifts last year (Washington Post)

Virginia Uranium Top "Gifter" to Lawmakers in 2011 (Danville Register & Bee)

$10,000+ Donations to PACs

VPAP posted 6 donations of $10,000 or more made to PACs in the last two weeks. Most are transfers of party money between committees.

VIEW ALL TRANSACTIONS

Roanoke: Large, Pre-Primary Donations

VPAP posted 11 large contributions reported by candidates in the Democratic primary for Roanoke mayor held February 4. Bowers was selected as the Democratic candidate for the May 1 election.

Links below show contributions reported by each candidate in the two weeks before the primary:

David Bowers
Sam Rasoul

Kings Dominion Campaign Contributions

The House today voted to relegate a law prohibiting schools from starting before Labor Day to the history books.

But campaign donations -- which helped give the so-called "Kings Dominion Law" its name -- disappeared years ago.

The law in question stipulates that public schools must begin classes after Labor Day unless granted a waiver by the state. Industry lobbyists – led by Kings Dominion – helped put the law on the books as a way to support a late summer tourism economy.

This year marks the first measurable success by groups seeking to strike out the decades-old requirement. By a 3:1 margin, the House approved a bill to allow schools districts to decide when to start classes.

Gov. Bob McDonnell has endorsed allowing school districts to start before Labor Day without a waiver. But the proposal faces opposition in the Senate, where last week a committee killed three similar bills.

Lobbyist Registrations

VPAP posted 32 lobbyist registrations provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The last update was January 20.

View All Lobbyist Registrations

New Donors

The 2011 General Assembly races marked the debut of nine companies and trade associations that for the first time contributed at least $7,500 to 10 or more different candidates. Some of these donors had been active before, but never had reached this level of giving directly to legislative candidates.

Note: All except Sabre have registered lobbyists for the 2012 General Assembly.

# of Candidates	Amount	Name	Description
17	$30,200	Va Biotechnology Assn	Promotes the bioscience industry
12	$20,500	John Crane Inc	Manfactures seals for oil & gas industry
16	$17,500	Total Wine & More	Beer/wine box store retailer
11	$12,500	JP Morgan Chase	Investment bank
27	$11,250	National Vision Inc	Nation's fourth largest optical company
22	$8,750	National Shooting Sports Foundation	Trade association for firearms industry
13	$8,500	Sabre Inc	Online travel sites, including Travelocity
12	$8,000	ACE American Insurance	Insurance company
16	$7,500	Va Propane Gas Assn	Promote propane and related products

Personal Finances: Top State Officials

The Virginia Public Access Project today posted the annual personal financial disclosure statements filed the state’s top three elected officials.

Governor Bob McDonnell
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling
Attorney General Cuccinelli

State law requires Virginia’s elected officials to disclose free trips, gifts and personal financial data so the public can evaluate potential conflicts.

Here are a few highlights:

Neither McDonnell, Bolling nor Cuccinelli appear to have significant personal wealth, particularly when it comes to Wall Street investments. McDonnell and Cuccinelli report no stocks, bonds or mutual funds worth more than $10,000. Bolling listed a single mutual fund valued between $10,001 and $50,000.
McDonnell reported nearly $44,000 in taxpayer-funded trips, including three overseas trade missions. That’s more than double the previous high of $18,000 in trips paid for by taxpayers since VPAP began tracking in 2006.

Coming soon: VPAP will post the personal financial disclosures of General Assembly members as soon as they are made available through the clerks of the House and Senate.

Lobbyist Registrations

VPAP posted 31 lobbyist registrations provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The last update was January 20.

View All Lobbyist Registrations

Local Disclosures Online

The nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project posted campaign reports from the following localities with elections in 2012.

Chesapeake City Council – May 1 Elections
Newport News City Council - May 1 Elections
City of Portsmouth (City Council and Mayor) - November 6 Elections
City of Richmond - November 6 Elections
City of Roanoke (City Council and Mayor) - May 1 Elections
City of Suffolk - November 6 Elections
City of Virginia Beach - November Elections

VPAP also posted year-end reports from the following counties with elections last November:

Updated: January 20

The nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project posted campaign reports from the following localities with elections in 2012.

These reports reflect fundraising activity from July 1 – December 31.

VPAP also posted year-end reports for city council and board of supervisor candidates from the following localities.

These reports offer a final look at fundraising and spending.

Accomack County
Albemarle County
Charlottesville City Council
Chesterfield County
Fairfax County
Fauquier County
Gloucester County
Goochland County
Hanover County
James City County
Loudoun County
Orange County
Powhatan County
Prince William County
Spotsylvania County
Stafford County

These reports cover the period from December 2 – 31.

VPAP

Lobbyist Registrations

Legislators' Gift Disclosures

Updated 2/8/2012

Updated Feb. 7

$10,000+ Donations to PACs

VIEW ALL TRANSACTIONS

Roanoke: Large, Pre-Primary Donations

David BowersSam Rasoul

Kings Dominion Campaign Contributions

Lobbyist Registrations

New Donors

Personal Finances: Top State Officials

Governor Bob McDonnellLieutenant Governor Bill BollingAttorney General Cuccinelli

Here are a few highlights:

Lobbyist Registrations

Local Disclosures Online

Accomack CountyAlbemarle CountyCharlottesville City CouncilChesterfield CountyFairfax CountyFauquier CountyGloucester CountyGoochland CountyHanover CountyJames City CountyLoudoun CountyOrange CountyPowhatan CountyPrince William CountySpotsylvania CountyStafford County

David Bowers
Sam Rasoul

Governor Bob McDonnell
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling
Attorney General Cuccinelli

Accomack County
Albemarle County
Charlottesville City Council
Chesterfield County
Fairfax County
Fauquier County
Gloucester County
Goochland County
Hanover County
James City County
Loudoun County
Orange County
Powhatan County
Prince William County
Spotsylvania County
Stafford County