Gifts to governor toned down under McAuliffe

Gifts to governor toned down under McAuliffe
By The Associated Press December 18, 2014 - 04:45 am

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The days of Virginia governors taking big-ticket gifts - like a Caribbean vacation or a suite at a Redskins game - appear to be over.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe instituted a $100 gift cap when he took office in January as a way of trying to restore Virginia's reputation after a gift scandal enveloped his predecessor. He recently submitted his annual statement of economic interest showing he's received gifts of only limited value.

They include dozens of mostly trinkets related to trade missions and other official duties. McAuliffe's list does not include access to posh vacation homes or tickets to high-priced sporting events that were frequently given to previous Virginia governors.

For instance, McAuliffe reported receiving a $50 "corporate mascot figurine" from the China-based e-commerce giant Alibaba during a trade mission. Stone Brewing Co., one of the nation's top craft breweries that is receiving a $5 million grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to relocate to Richmond, gave McAuliffe a case of IPA beer worth $76.88.

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