Were Del. Spruill’s votes on Del. Moran’s bills a conflict of interest?
By Brian Kirwin | Monday, July 21st, 2008 | Catch-AllHouse Rule 69 reads “no member who has an immediate and personal interest in the result of the question shall either vote or be counted upon it.” Members abstain when their employment has an interest in the outcome.
VPAP reports that Del. Brian Moran made payments to Del. Lionel Spruill throughout the year, including during the General Assembly session while Spruill was voting on bills patroned by Moran. “I am working for Brian,” Spruill told the Washington Post. Shouldn’t Delegates abstain from bills offered by their “employer?”
Virginia Public Access Project lists the following payments made to Del. Spruill from Del. Moran’s political account.
$7,500 05/30/2008 Consulting Fee
$7,500 04/30/2008 Consulting Fee
$7,500 03/30/2008 Consulting Fee
$5,000 02/29/2008 Consulting Fee
$5,000 02/07/2008 Consulting Fee
$7,500 01/03/2008 Consulting Fee
Nice work if you can get it. The General Assembly was in session from January 9 to March 13. Spruill was paid once right before the session began, twice during session in February, and regularly since.
Moran’s bills, HB 93, 1190, 1241, 1459, and HJ 113 all got votes from Del. Spruill.
Moran’s hiring of a fellow Delegate may have offered a new chapter in conflict of interest rules, which were written to require abstentions from voting members on laws they had a material interest in. When the material interest is not the legislation but the legislator, in my opinion the conflict similarly exists. I’m no lawyer, but taking the money during session and voting on the bills the check-writer is sponsoring can’t be allowed.
Moran can pay Spruill whatever he wants, and I guess he can do it during session if he wants.
But when Moran’s legislation comes to a vote, Spruill should’ve abstained.
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
Comments
4 Responses to "Were Del. Spruill’s votes on Del. Moran’s bills a conflict of interest?"
[...] big money. Nice to see Democrats looking out for the little guy! Spruill didn’t even have the decency to abstain from voting on Boss Moran’s legislation while pocketing his [...]
I guess Morgan Griffith should not be voting on any Dave Albo bills eh?
As you are aware Delegate Morgan Griffth works fro Delegate Albo, is that also a conflict of interest. Perhaps Morgan will be able to buy some decent clothes now that he’s moved up in the world.
[...] campaign (better if it was in his own name, but eh?) that almost solves every problem I cited in this post about Moran paying Spruill during the General Assembly [...]
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