Virginia lawmakers banish pricey gifts — but not fundraisers

An Associated Press analysis of campaign finance records shows Virginia's elected officials have hosted birthday blowouts, high-dollar hunting and fishing trips, and expensive golf tournaments in efforts to raise money.

[...] campaign finance filings provide scant details, making it impossible to determine if those fundraisers make money, break even or even net a loss.

[...] unlike federal law and most other states, which have campaign contribution limits and prohibitions on lawmakers spending campaign funds for personal use, Virginia's campaign finance system is virtually unregulated.

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe made ethics reform an early priority and said he's broken from past gubernatorial practice of routinely accepting gifts like private jet rides, use of multimillion-dollar vacation homes or access to private suites at Washington Redskins games.

The five-star Primland resort offers a variety of hunting packages, ranging from a few hundred dollars to $2,400-per-person pheasant shoots where "loaders and dog handlers dressed in proper shooting attire add European elegance and style," according to a resort brochure.

Few state lawmakers ever face serious challengers, but many rely heavily on the corporate interests that lobby them to build large campaign war chests.

Besides using large campaign funds to scare off potential challengers, lawmakers also raise money to give to other candidates and to subsidize their official duties.

After Sen. Henry Marsh retired from the General Assembly and was appointed to the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission board, he still put on his annual golf tournament and accepted campaign donations.