Dogwood Daily: Virginia is in the bottom third of states for ethics enforcement

By Sean Galvin

September 13, 2019

Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got a round-up of all of today’s Virginia news coming right up. And if you’re a fan, please forward to three friends who need to know what’s going on in the Commonwealth and tell them to subscribe here

But First…

Virginia’s General Assembly elections are just around the corner and we’re continuing our series on candidates in competitive races. This week, we profiled Ann Ridgeway, who is running against incumbent Del. Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper) in Virginia’s 30th district.

5 things you need to know today

  1. Virginia is in the bottom third of states for ethics enforcement – Virginia ranked in the bottom third of states for ethics enforcement, according to a new report from The Coalition for Integrity. Shruthi Shah, president of the coalition, says that the General Assembly’s ethics advisory boards are limited and currently “have no authority to sanction any violations that they uncover.” The organization is calling for legislative candidates to take the Virginia Integrity Challenge, in which they pledge to support some kind of enforcement authority. So far, only 18 have done so. – WVTF

  2. Virginia hospitals oppose plan to stop some surprise billing – During a hearing before the State Corporation Commission on Thursday, Virginia hospitals expressed their opposition to a potential rule that would require them to give patients notice if they’re likely to be treated by an out-of-network doctor. Hospitals and doctors groups – who would be required to cover the cost of the bills if they fail to give patients proper notice – say the new rule would place an undue burden on them when it is actually insurance companies who are to blame. While the new regulation would help end some cases of surprise billing, it’s seen as only a small step in addressing the larger problem, in part because it wouldn’t pertain to emergency services. – Virginia Mercury

  3. Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic share details about partnership spurring economic development – Virginia Tech and the Carilion Clinic first partnered on a medical school and research institute twelve years ago, but this week they shared details about their plans to expand the institute. Virginia Tech announced that the expansion is expected to have a $500 million impact on the local economy, while Carilion said it will invest $1 billion in improvements over the next seven years, including an expansion of Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The partnership should yield 828 new jobs for the state, according to an economist from the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. – The Roanoke Times

  4. Sturtevant campaign runs misleading ad – State Sen. Glen Sturtevant (R-Chesterfield) featured two misleading attributions in a recent campaign ad. The ad incorrectly attributed two letters to the editor published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch as having come from the newspaper itself. Sturtevant’s campaign acknowledged the mistake and said the ad, which already ran during the month of August, has been pulled from the airwaves. Sturtevant will face Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, a community college administrator, in November’s elections. – Richmond Times-Dispatch

  5. Huntington Ingalls Industries awarded defense contract – The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) announced that the Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries is one of 16 companies that has been awarded part of a potential $17 billion contract. The federal government offered the contract to Fulcrum IT Services, a company based in Centreville, that was recently acquired by Huntington Ingalls. The DIA has yet to say how it will divide the contract, so it’s unknown exactly how much money Huntington Ingalls will receive. – The Virginian-Pilot

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