Virginia ranks 27th in the nation for making basic information on state legislators’ income, assets and potential conflicts of interest available to the public.

Virginia received 59.5 out of a possible 100 points, the Center for Public Integrity reported.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/oi/iys.aspx?st=VA

A Roanoke Times editorial noted that nearly half of Virginia state legislators, more than in all but two other states, serve on committees that regulate businesses or professions in which they have a personal financial interest. And 40 percent of Virginia legislators, more than in any other state except Texas, have a financial tie to a business or group registered to lobby the General Assembly.

The Times commented, “The prevalence of such potential conflicts of interest may be unavoidable in a state committed to the principle of a part-time legislature. The other side of that coin is the importance it lends to financial disclosure — for which the center gave Virginia its failing grade.