McAuliffe names panel to reform Virginia’s ethics laws

Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia has rolled out another in a series of attempts to repair the state’s broken reputation, creating a commission to focus on ethics and accountability in government.

The move comes in the wake of the conviction of former Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, McAuliffe’s predecessor, on corruption charges stemming from gifts he accepted while in office. In a press conference announcing the panel on Thursday, McAuliffe, a Democrat, implicitly acknowledged the case and also cited the state’s failing grade in the Center for Public Integrity’s State Integrity Investigation, calling the grade “one of the many warnings the state has received on its mediocre record on accountability and transparency.” McAuliffe’s action also represents a tacit acknowledgment that reform efforts undertaken by the legislature earlier this year were inadequate.

The ten-member commission will be led by former U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, a Democrat, and former Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican. The panel is scheduled to announce recommendations in December for how the legislature can address a broad range of subjects, including limiting gifts to public officials and the creation of an independent ethics commission. McAuliffe said the panel was comprised of “pragmatists and problem-solvers.”

The state received an overall grade of F from the State Integrity Investigation, a data-driven, 50-state review of accountability and transparency in state government released in 2012 by the Center, Global Integrity and Public Radio International. The commission will address a number of issues that the Center identified as particular problems, including political financing, lobbyist disclosure and ethics enforcement agencies.

Related: Governor McAuliffe forms ethics commission

There’s more to this story. Click here to read the rest at the Center for Public Integrity.

This story is part of State Integrity Investigation. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

Related stories

• McAuliffe takes step toward reform in Virginia

• Embattled McDonnell benefactor also boosted RGA

• Koch-backed governors group gives big to Cuccinelli in Virginia

• A hyper-super PAC boosts McAuliffe in Virginia race

• D.C.-based governors' associations provide back door for corporate donors

• RGA raises $50 million going into election year

Copyright 2014 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.