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Lawmakers on Tuesday outlined the details of a bipartisan ethics reform plan meant to address the kinds of lapses they say have marred Virginians' trust in their elected officials.
The agreement between House Democrats and Republicans is the product of roughly six months of work to parse out more than a dozen changes aimed at strengthening Virginia's ethical standards without making public office unduly onerous, said Del. Jennifer McClellan, a Richmond Democrat who worked on the compromise.
* Placing a $250 limit on individual gifts to public officials and their immediate family members, excluding meals and travel. The cap, for example, would mean lawmakers could receive a $230 Kindle tablet but not a $400 iPad.
House Minority Leader David Toscano, a Charlottesville Democrat, said at a morning news conference. "We Democrats felt that this is one area where we could join together with Republicans and come forward with some proposals that are going to help restore some of the faith that's been lost, frankly, among the public in their elected officials."
The package also does not address campaign finance laws, which do not limit donations but require them to be disclosed.
originally posted by: Woodcarver
Im trying to figure out why they are allowed any gifts at all.
strengthening Virginia's ethical standards without making public office unduly onerous, said Del. Jennifer McClellan, a Richmond Democrat who worked on the compromise.