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Gifts to Virginia Lawmakers Down

wikipedia.org

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A nonprofit organization that tracks campaign funds has released data showing that state lawmakers are accepting fewer gifts than a year ago.

Data from the Virginia Public Access Project shows that 74 lawmakers reported taking a gift worth more than $50 between November 2015 and April. That number dropped by 15 percent compared to the same time frame a year ago, when 87 lawmakers reported taking gifts.

The Virginian Pilot reports that lawmakers acknowledged their behavior has changed following the conviction of former Gov. Bob McDonnell in a scandal involving more than $170,000 in gifts and off-the-books loans.

The General Assembly amended state law in 2015 to ban certain gifts over $100 annually. Sen. Frank Wagner says lawmakers have been accepting fewer gifts after the law went into effect.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.