Guv continues excuses; Assembly reacts
In light of the recent kerfluffle over a fundraising reception that was to be held at the Governor’s mansion in support of a Democratic women’s PAC, Delegate Morgan Griffith has introduced a bill to ban fundraising at the Mansion. From WaPo:
use Bill 2657 simply says “Any event at the Executive Mansion for the purpose of soliciting funds for any purpose, other than for charity, shall be prohibited at all times.”
Griffith (R-Salem) said last week that he got a “creepy feeling” when he learned of a planned reception at the mansion.
Meanwhile, the Governor’s staff continues to make excuses for the “mistake”:
Gordon Hickey’s Kaine’s spokesman, said the governor supports the bill. “We already have a strict rule of not doing political fundraising at the mansion,” he said. “He recently canceled a reception there when he found out the group was improperly advertising it as a fundraising event without his permission.”
If the rule is so strict, then why didn’t they determine the true nature of the event. Even if it is a two part event (the tickets were for a nearby panel discussion with a reception following), couldn’t they have figured out that the Governor was the main draw here? Blame cuts both ways, but the Governor should have been much more careful.
Another question: Will Governor Kaine be signing any solicitations for the DNC while the Assembly is in session? Even if it’s not a state organization, you can guarantee that some of the DNC money will end up in Virginia this year.
