RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Critics say new ethics legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly won’t accomplish its main goal: preventing another scandal like the one that engulfed former Gov. Bob McDonnell. Lawmakers passed ethics reform bills in the final minutes of the 2015 legislative assembly last week. Proponents said the bill, with new limits on gifts and travel, will help restore the public trust following McDonnell’s conviction on corruption charges last year. But critics say there were many issues highlighted by the McDonnell scandal that lawmakers have not addressed in two straight legislative sessions. For instance, Fairfax County Democratic Del. Scott Surovell said there’s still no provision preventing public officials from accepting loans with highly generous terms like McDonnell and his wife did with vitamin salesman Jonnie Williams.
