Ethics commission submits first report to Governor

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government, headed up by former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Congressman Rick Boucher, turned in an interim report on their recommendations on ethics reforms. The report contains recommendations that will strengthen ethics oversight and enforcement, place new restrictions on gifts and loans, reduce the potential for conflicts of interests, and clarify post-public service restrictions. Governor McAuliffe will review the report and make final decisions on his legislative initiatives in the coming weeks.

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins’ partisan retort is not helpful in search for ethics reform

By Lynn R. Mitchell

No sooner had Governor Terry McAuliffe announced a bipartisan commission on ethics reform to be headed up by former Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Democratic Congressman Rich Boucher than the Republican Party of Virginia’s Chairman Pat Mullins came out with a snarky response.

I’m not the only one who has grown weary of partisan politics. This was the latest childish retort from Mullins (see Ethics Reform. Terry McAuliffe. Really?):

Bill Bolling to head up governor’s ethics commission

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has one more job to add to his already-full plate of interests along with his full-time job: co-chairing a commission to study ethics, campaign-finance reform, and nonpartisan redistricting.

According to Laura Vozzella with the Washington Post (see In wake of McDonnell conviction, McAulifee to announce ethics commission), Bolling, a Republican, will be appointed today by Governor Terry McAuliffe to head up the new commission along with former Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher. The announcement is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol in Richmond.