RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A state ethics panel created by Gov. Terry McAuliffe has issued its final recommendations. The Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government released a report Tuesday that its authors say would strengthen state laws regarding conflicts of interest, gifts to public officials and disclosure requirements. Among the recommendations is a proposal to create an independent ethics review commission. That measure failed to win General Assembly approval in the last session. Other recommendations would provide public funding for the transition expenses of governors-elect and tighter rules on gifts to public officials from friends. State officials have been wrestling with how best to fix Virginia’s generally lax ethics rules. Their efforts were spurred by a gift scandal involving former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen.
