Showing posts with label Rick Boucher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rick Boucher. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Governor’s Commission of Integrity and Public Confidence to Convene. (Not much left)

Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government will convene its second meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, November 14 in Senate Room 3 in the Capitol of Virginia.

Commission members will complete their work on proposals for strengthening rules for the ethical conduct of state officials. Governor McAuliffe has asked for interim recommendations byDecember 1 on ethics oversight and enforcement, limits on gifts and loans, rules on conflicts of interest, disclosure requirements and post-public service restrictions. The commission also will continue its discussion on redistricting reforms.

Former U.S. Representative Rick Boucher and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, co-chairmen of the commission, encouraged Virginians to submit their comments and ideas for the panel’s consideration. The commission is seeking public input on its website, governor.virginia.gov/integrity-commission and via email sent to integrity@governor.virginia.gov.

A public forum on November 6 at the University of Virginia School of Law attracted speakers from Norfolk, Roanoke and Loudoun County as well as participants from Charlottesville and the surrounding region.

The Commission was established on September 25 by Executive Order 28, which instructed the 10 members to provide interim recommendations to the Governor by December 1, 2014 with the goal of pursuing legislation during the Virginia General Assembly’s 2015 session.

The other members of the commission are former Delegate Viola Baskerville, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, former President of the University of Virginia John T. Casteen III, President of Hampden-Sydney College Christopher Howard, Vice President for Advancement at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Susan A. Magill, attorney and former Assistant Attorney General Courtney M. Malveaux, former Delegate Joe T. May and former President and CEO of BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. John Sherman, Jr.

From a recent state legal document:

"Americans are not ruled by monarchies and dynasties, nor owe allegiance to a self-appointed few.  We are governed by ourselves.  We are a representative democracy, which entitles us to liberty, equality, free speech, a free press, protection of private property, privacy, and other inalienable rights.  American self-government began in Virginia, and it continues to thrive at the Capital today."

Now the question is, does anyone actually see the above statement in play in this state under governor Terry McAuliffe's direction?  What we have seen are extreme abuse of power by this governor in our opinion.  This guy has refused to uphold the state constitution and it looks like he is selling out every facet of the state to the highest bidders at every level and even using your tax dollars to fund massive corporate welfare programs all the while destroying small businesses.  

He is also working hard, in our opinion, at destroying property rights and personal liberties.  So do we see any integrity or have any confidence?  No!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces First Meeting of Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government

Terry McAuliffe by David Shankbone, New York City
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All From The Person Who Took An Oath Of Office To Uphold The State Constitution And Then Throws It Under The Bus The First Chance He Got.

Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government will convene its first meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 27 in House Room 3 of the state Capitol.

Former U.S. Representative Rick Boucher and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, co-chairmen of the commission, also announced that the panel will host a forum to receive public comments next month. The event will be held from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. November 6 at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville. The forum will take place in Caplin Auditorium, located in Withers-Brown Hall. The event is cosponsored by the University of Virginia Law School and the Center for Politics.

The commission was established on September 25 by Executive Order 28, which asked the 10 members to provide interim recommendations to the Governor by December 1, 2014, with the goal of pursuing legislation during the 2015 Virginia General Assembly session.

The commission is tasked with recommending good government reforms, including meaningful rules for the ethical conduct of state officials, procedures for ensuring accountability to the electorate, and policies guiding the selection and service of high quality public servants.

“I look forward to the commission’s recommendations, and I am confident that the efforts of these 10 men and women will help to generate bipartisan support for broad-based reforms to Virginia’s ethics laws and other policies promoting high-quality governance in the commonwealth,” said Governor McAuliffe.

“This commission has much work to do, and it is essential that we establish a solid foundation for our recommendations during our first meeting,” Boucher said. “I look forward to the valuable insights of my co-chairman, Governor Bolling, and other esteemed members as we begin this important endeavor.”

“Congressman Boucher and I are committed to providing a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to restore Virginians’ trust in their state government and their leaders,” said Bolling. “Those recommendations will serve as the seeds for a culture of integrity in the commonwealth.”

The other members of the commission are former Delegate Viola Baskerville, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, former President of the University of Virginia John T. Casteen III, President of Hampden-Sydney College Christopher Howard, Vice President for Advancement at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Susan A. Magill, attorney and former Assistant Attorney General Courtney M. Malveaux, former Delegate Joe T. May and former President and CEO of BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. John Sherman, Jr.

In their first meeting, commission members will review current ethics laws and policies and discuss recommendations for strengthening those rules.

The commission also will discuss Virginia’s redistricting procedures at its October meeting. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia earlier this month declared Virginia’s congressional districts unconstitutional. That ruling has given fresh immediacy to the issue, and commission members will respond by discussing the benefits of nonpartisan redistricting at their first meeting.

Members of the public also are invited to provide comments and read more about the commission’s work on its website, https://governor.virginia.gov/integrity-commission/

(Sorry, we have no confidence in state government when the Governor and the state attorney general both refuse to uphold the state constitution in an effort to trample all over it.  The governor and the state attorney general both need to be impeached).


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Friday, September 26, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government

Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe today signed Executive Order 28 establishing the Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government. The executive order identifies the broad priorities of the Governor in his pursuit of a better state government, including meaningful rules for the ethical conduct of state officials, procedures for ensuring accountability to the electorate, and policies guiding the selection and service of high quality public servants.
The order asks the new 10-member commission to provide the Governor with recommendations in December 2014 on ethics laws and policies with the goal of pursuing legislation during the Virginia General Assembly’s 2015 session. The commission will continue to meet in 2015 in order to study and make recommendations on other good government topics, including campaign finance, the selection and service of judges and other public officials, and gubernatorial terms.
“I am creating this commission because it is imperative that we foster a culture of professionalism in state government that attracts future leaders of the highest caliber,” Governor McAuliffe said during his announcement at the state Capitol. “I want to guarantee superior service to the next generation of Virginians. And I want to establish an enduring culture of integrity on which this state can prosper. These are not merely my values. They are the essential covenant of democracy.”
The appointees were selected based on their knowledge of government operations and the history of the issues they will examine.
“They are bipartisan and represent a cross section of political philosophies,” Governor McAuliffe said. “They are pragmatists and problem-solvers. Most important, they are individuals with the highest credibility and integrity.”
Former U.S. Representative Rick Boucher and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling have agreed to serve as co-chairmen of the commission.
"I'm honored that the Governor has asked me to join with my friend, former Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, and other members of the commission in recommending a set of reforms for Virginia's ethics laws,” Boucher said. “I'm impressed with the quality of the other members of the commission, who are distinguished and widely respected on a bipartisan basis.  Our goal will be to draft a set of legislative recommendations that will enjoy the bipartisan support of members of the commission and are broadly reflective of the public's view that strengthening of Virginia's laws governing official ethics is necessary.  I very much look forward to the work we have before us."
“It is my great pleasure to serve with my esteemed co-chairman, former Congressman Boucher, and the other members of the commission,” said Bolling.  “I have long been a believer in meaningful laws regarding gifts to public officials and stronger enforcement of disclosure rules.  We must take direct and immediate action to ensure public confidence, but we must also be orderly and deliberative in our pursuit of real, consequential reforms. I believe the goals established for this commission are shared by all mainstream Virginians. Working together, we will develop recommendations that I am convinced will attract bipartisan support.”
Governor’s Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government members:
  • Co-chairman Rick Boucher, of Abingdon, is a Partner at the law firm Sidley Austin, LLP. He served in the Senate of Virginia for seven years and 28 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his congressional tenure, Boucher served on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee, chairing the subcommittees on energy and air quality; and communications, technology and the Internet. He carved out a role as a trusted bipartisan leader on critical issues including telecommunications and Internet policy.
  • Co-chairman Bill Bolling, of Hanover, is the Managing Director – Virginia Operations for Riggs, Counselman, Michaels & Downes, one of the largest independent insurance companies in the country.  He spent 24 years in local and state elected office, including four years as a member and Chairman of Hanover Board of Supervisors, ten years in the Senate of Virginia and eight years as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.  During his public service, he earned a reputation as a consensus building lawmaker and leader in economic development, health care and open government issues.  He is Chairman of the Virginia Mainstream Project.
  • Viola Baskerville, of Richmond, is the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Her previous career in politics began as a member of the Richmond City Council, including a period as vice mayor. She served four terms as a member of the House of Delegates and sponsored legislation providing scholarships for African-American students in Prince Edward County who were denied an education when its schools were closed. Gov. Tim Kaine later tapped her to be his Secretary of Administration, a job overseeing nine state agencies.
  • Sharon Bulova, of Fairfax, is chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, a post she has held since February 2009. She previously served as the Braddock District Supervisor from 1988 until 2009. She has been a champion for regionalism as a member and past chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. Bulova also founded Faith Communities in Action, a countywide network which enables faith communities and charitable non-profit organizations to work in partnership with local government to better respond to the needs of the community.
  • John T. Casteen III, of Keswick, is University Professor and President Emeritus at the University of Virginia. During his tenure as president of the University from 1990 to 2010, he increased the number of students and faculty members, expanded international programs for research, and bolstered the University’s endowments and its stature nationally. He served as Virginia’s Secretary of Education from 1982 to 1985. Among his many honors and recognitions is the creation of the John T. Casteen III Faculty Fellowship in Ethics awarded to University faculty members.
  • Christopher Howard, of Hampden Sydney, is President of Hampden-Sydney College and one of the youngest college presidents in the United States. Howard previously served as Vice President for Leadership & Strategic Initiatives at the University of Oklahoma, where he also was the Director of the Honors College Leadership Center. He is a founder, former chairman and current trustee of the Impact Young Lives Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarship and travel opportunities for South African university students of color. During his tenure, Hampden-Sydney College has twice been named champion in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Ethics Bowl and twice been runner-up.
  • Susan A. Magill, of Alexandria, is Vice President for Advancement at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.  Previously, she served as Managing Director of Philanthropic Services and Government Relations for the Pew Charitable Trust, and Chief of Staff to Senator John Warner for over 20 years.  She has served on the Board of Visitors of William & Mary College and was the second woman elected as Rector of the college’s governing body.  In 2008, she was honored by VCU with its Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in government.
  • Courtney M. Malveaux, of Henrico County, is a business attorney at ThompsonMcMullan.  Previously, he served as Commissioner of Virginia’s Department of Labor and Industry and is the Immediate Past President of the National Association of Government Labor Officials.  He is a former Assistant Attorney General and a former Deputy Counsel to the Attorney General of Virginia.  As a former Associate Solicitor General, he assisted in developing appellate arguments and briefs before a variety of state and federal appellate courts up to the Supreme Court of the United States.
  • Joe T. May, of Loudoun County, is Chairman of the Board and Chief Technologist for EIT, LLC.  Previously, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates for 20 years, including six years as Chairman of the Transportation Committee.  During his tenure in the House, he earned a reputation as thoughtful and effective legislator.  An engineer by trade, he holds over 20 patents in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering.
  • John Sherman, Jr., of Richmond, is former President and CEO of BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, Inc.  He has a long record of public service and civic engagement in the Metro Richmond community.  He received the 2005 Verizon Arête Award from Leadership Metro Richmond, and in 2011 he received the Edward Wayne Medal from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He has served as chairman of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the United Way campaign, and Chairman of the Management Roundtable. Currently, he serves on the boards of Albemarle Corporation, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, and the VCU School of Engineering Foundation.

NUMBER TWENTY EIGHT (2014)


ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION ON
INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT


Importance of the Initiative

The fundamental strength of Virginia’s government derives from an engaged citizenry and the utmost dedication from its public servants. Ethical and effective governance requires elected and appointed officers to take every appropriate action for the proper use of public resources and transparency in public endeavors.

My administration is committed to identifying the highest standards for comprehensive governmental reform. Virginia’s reputation as one of the outstanding states for business depends upon trusted institutions, public confidence in government, and principled leadership in the Commonwealth. To forge an ethos of trust, it is crucial to continually review operational procedures and systems to ensure that the Commonwealth accountability and efficiency.

Establishment of the Commission

Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth, including but not limited to
§§ 2.2-134 and 2.2-135 of the Code of Virginia, and subject to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility, I hereby establish the Governor’s Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government (“Commission”).

Key Reform Issues

I am directing the Commission to review and make recommendations for legislation or policies that address the following reform issues:

  1. Comprehensive Government Ethics
·       The benefits of a more independent Ethics Commission for oversight of conflicts of interest matters.
·       A cap or ban on gifts for legislators, including “intangible” gifts of meals and travel.
·       Rules regarding personal loans, or any loans other than those from commercial financial institutions at rates available to the general public, to legislators and their family members from personal friends or business associates.
·       Rules regarding grants, deliberations, or decisions by members of public boards and commissions that could provide a direct financial benefit to such members, members’ family, personal friends, or close business associates.
·       Rules regarding post-governmental employment and an appropriate waiting period prior to beginning such employment.
·       Policies regarding lawyer-legislators representing clients before state agencies during their term in office.
·       Rules related to legislators holding executive branch employment during their term in office.

  1. Campaign Finance
·       Rules related to the amount of contributions to campaigns by individuals, corporations, PACs, lobbyists, and others. 
·       Rules regarding campaign contributions during special sessions of the General Assembly.
·       Policies on the personal use of candidate campaign funds.
·       The disclosure of independent expenditures and advertising in support of or opposition to political candidates prior to an election.

  1. Disclosure Oversight and Enforcement
·       Independent investigation and audit of campaign disclosures.
·       Independent administration and audit of lobbyist disclosure forms.

  1. Selection and Service of Judges and Other Public Officials
·       Procedures for improving the selection of judges and other candidates for public service.

  1. Second Consecutive Term for Virginia’s Governor
·       Frequency of gubernatorial transitions and the impact on providing services to citizens as well as the daily operations of executive branch agencies. 

  1. Various Other Governmental Reforms
·       Procedures for legislative and congressional redistricting.
·       Alterations in the state budget cycle as it relates to gubernatorial terms.

The Commission may, at its discretion or the discretion of the Governor, examine other issues consistent with the purposes of this Executive Order.

Composition of the Commission

Former Congressman Rick Boucher and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling will serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission. The Commission will be comprised of no more than ten (10) members appointed by the Governor and will serve at his pleasure. The Governor may appoint additional persons to the Commission at his discretion. 
Staff support
Staff support as necessary to support the Commission will be furnished by the Office of the Governor, and the Governor may designate further support by any other executive branch agencies. An estimated 300 hours of staff time will be required to support the work of the Commission. The Commission may consult with any experts it deems necessary for the requisite information to provide a full and complete report. 
Funding needed to support the Commission will be provided by state and other appropriate funds. Direct costs for this Commission are estimated at no more than $15,000. Members of the Commission will serve without compensation, but may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties. 
The Commission will meet at least once monthly upon the call of the Co-Chairs beginning in October, 2014. The Commission will present an interim report pertaining to comprehensive government ethics reform to the Governor on or before December 1, 2014. The Commission will also issue other reports and recommendations as it deems necessary or as requested by the Governor. 

Effective Date of the Executive Order

This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and, pursuant to §§ 2.2-134 and 2.2-135 of the Code of Virginia, shall remain in force and effect for a year or until superseded or rescinded. 
          Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this 25th day of September, 2014.




Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor







Attest:             _______________________________________
                        Levar M. Stoney, Secretary of the Commonwealth