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Va. ‘ethics reform’ is riddled with loopholes and softens a penalty for lying in disclosures


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WestVirginiaRebel
c194b1d0-9b65-11e3-975d-107dfef7b668_story.htmlWashington Post:

The purported “ethics reform” bills sliding easily through the Virginia legislature include a curious, little-noticed provision.

 

Under language approved by the Senate and House of Delegates, legislators would no longer be obliged to have their financial disclosure forms notarized.

 

Why is that important? It means lawmakers would be charged only with a misdemeanor, rather than a felony, for making a false statement about their investments or gifts they’ve received from lobbyists.

 

Well, isn’t that convenient.

 

Richmond political leaders have touted the bills as taking a major bite out of corruption, in response to the gifts scandal involving former governor Bob McDonnell ®. Instead, this switch would yank out one of the current law’s sharper teeth.

 

The bills’ drafters supposedly made the change because of advancing technology. General Assembly members are to stop filing disclosure forms on paper and start doing so electronically, where notarization was said to be difficult.

 

It’s a phony argument. Lawmakers could easily write the bills to make it a felony to lie on a disclosure form, no matter how it’s filed.

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Ethics, brought to you by Terry McAuliffe and company...


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