shareGifts to Va Legislators Decline
(RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 02/11/2010)
By Tyler Whitley - The Times-Dispatch
In tough economic times, even the freebies are down.
The value of gifts to the members of the General Assembly dropped 24 percent last year from the totals reported in 2008, a report of the Virginia Public Access Project indicated yesterday.
The gifts, ranging from trips to far-off lands to football tickets, were valued at $252,000, compared with $331,000 in 2008, VPAP reported.
Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, accompanied by his wife, Agnes, flew to China on a trip sponsored by the Southern Legislative Conference and financed by the Chinese government.
Colgan said legislators from five other Southern states went. The cost for the Colgans was $11,496.
He said he used the opportunity to spread the message that Virginia is a good place for the Chinese to open a business. The legislators met with the deputy secretary of the foreign office of China, he said.
Members of the General Assembly are required to disclose gifts valued at $50 or more on Statements of Economic Interest they filed at the beginning of the session with the clerks of the House of Delegates and the state Senate.
VPAP blamed the recession for the drop-off in spending. Lobbying organizations cut back on the number of big receptions in 2009.
In addition, 21 of the legislators are new, and they were not on the reception and gift-giving list in 2009. The 21 together reported just $65 in gifts.
But some of the veterans fared well.
Del. Watkins M. Abbitt Jr., I-Appomattox, went hunting in South Carolina and bagged two wild boars, courtesy of the Virginia Public Safety Alliance, an organization consisting of sheriffs and other law-enforcement officials. The trip was valued at $980.
Abbitt said he had such a good time that he paid his own way for a second boar-hunting trip to Swansea, S.C.
As usual, "there were no strings attached," Abbitt said. "There never have been."
Del. Lacey E. Putney, I-Bedford and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was treated by McGuireWoods to tickets to a New York Mets-New York Yankees baseball game, valued at $880.
Several legislators accepted tickets to Washington Redskins football games at FedEx Field, courtesy of Dominion Resources Inc. or Sprint Nextel. Sen. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller, D-Fairfax, received four $100 gift certificates to Bloomingdale's, the department store.
Most of the givers have business before the assembly.
The Virginia Public Safety Alliance was the biggest giver, after spending nothing on the legislators in 2008. Its generosity included about $6,800 to Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, the Republican floor leader. Norment said it was for "travel."
The next-biggest spender was Dominion, at $11,735. It bought football tickets and wined and dined legislators.
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters took several legislators to Port Isobel, on Tangier Island, to talk about the crab and oyster industries. Its total came to $7,644.
The three newly elected statewide officeholders also reported gifts.
Gov. Bob McDonnell was treated by Richmond-area lawyer Alexander B. McMurtrie to a trip to a Notre Dame football game. Air travel, lodging and tickets came to $11,196. SJ Strategic Investments, an investment firm based in Bristol, Tenn., bought seven suite tickets to a Redskins game for the McDonnell family at $8,940. Commonwealth Clothiers gave McDonnell $899 worth of clothing.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling received NASCAR tickets from Richmond International Raceway valued at $827, including food and beverages. The Colonial Athletic Conference gave him tickets valued at $504. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reported only one gift, a sculpture valued at $279 from the Virginia Institute of Public Policy.