Sen. Yvonne Miller Top Gift Recipient

(VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 02/11/2010)

Sen. Yvonne Miller was the top recipient of gifts and trips given to Virginia's 140 state lawmakers last year.

Miller, D-Norfolk, reported $15,594 in total receipts, according to her annual financial disclosure report filed last month.

Miller, one of Hampton Roads' most senior lawmakers, has been at or near the top of the list of recipients for several years.

Her total includes $9,122 from private sources, primarily lobbyists, and $6,472 from state taxpayers, generally reimbursements for travel to legislative conferences.

A message left at her Richmond office seeking comment was not returned Wednesday, but an aide to Miller said the senator meticulously reports any gift she receives.

In the past, Miller has said attending legislative conferences can spark ideas for bills. It also helps make her a more effective lawmaker, she has said.

Three other senior lawmakers received more than $10,000 in gifts and travel reimbursements: Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Prince William County, $15,086; House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, $13,435; and Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City County, $10,448.

The China-United States Exchange Foundation spent nearly $11,500 to send Colgan and his wife to China in September, along with six senators from other states.

Colgan said the trip gave him a chance to exchange governing ideas with Chinese officials and "spread some goodwill and sell Virginia" to potential foreign investors.

Lawmakers are required to report gifts valued over $50 and trips valued over $200.

The next-biggest recipients of gifts and trips among South Hampton Roads lawmakers were Sen. Frederick Quayle, R-Suffolk, $5,045; Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, $5,043; Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, $4,991; Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake, $2,599; Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach, $2,851; Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, $1,810; Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, $1,103; Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, $780; and Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, $595.

Data from the reports were compiled and released Wednesday by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit organization that tracks contributions to state politicians.

Statewide, the value of gifts to lawmakers declined 25 percent from 2008 - $331,000 to $252,000.

David Poole, executive director of VPAP, attributed the decline to two factors: fewer high-dollar receptions during the 2009 General Assembly session - perhaps because of the stagnant economy - and the unusually large number of newly elected lawmakers, who haven't had much time to attract gifts.