shareUpdate: Gifts to Legislators
Date: 02/04/2009
VPAP has posted a database of personal gifts of $50 or more that General Assembly members and elected statewide office holders reported receiving during 2008.
Gifts are distinct from campaign donations; gifts personally benefit a public official by providing him or her with things such as meals, trips and sporting event tickets. Each January, members of the General Assembly were required to list any such gift valued at more than $50 they received during the previous year. The information is disclosed on their annual Statement of Economic Interests that legislators file with the House and Senate clerks and the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
In the next week to 10 days, VPAP will post the other schedules from the economic interest documents, including real estate and stock holdings.