House leadership proposes $100 gift cap

Republican leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates said Wednesday they will propose a $100 gift cap for both tangible and non-tangible gifts to government officials.

Although the governor's ethics panel recently proposed a $250 gift cap, Gov. Terry McAuliffe told Virginia Business in November that he supported a cap closer to $100, the same limit he put on his administration and their families through an executive order when he took office.

The General Assembly passed ethics reform legislation in the 2014 session, but Gov. Bob McDonnell's conviction on 11 federal corruption charges has renewed efforts this year for stricter laws. The 2014 ethics reform package imposed a $250 limit on tangible goods but did not restrict non-tangible items, which include travel, meals and tickets.

Legislation has already been submitted by  state Sens. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Richard Stuart (R-Stafford) that would put a $100 limit on tangible gifts and require the  Virginia Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to review intangible gifts.

“As we have said before, the ultimate responsibility to enact the needed reforms rests with the General Assembly,” Republican House leaders said in a statement. “The actions we take will be an important step toward our goal of regaining the trust and confidence of the citizens of the commonwealth.”