Forget campaign contributions – Virginia lawmakers received more than a quarter-million dollars in free meals, gifts, and travel last year.
The top recipient was Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol, whose gifts totaled about $17,600, including $15,000 for a trip provided by the Southern Legislative Conference, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
The top donor was the American Turkish Friendship Association, at $36,650, which paid for trips to Turkey for a number of legislators (some of them accompanied by spouses).
Virginia Uranium, which wants to mine the material in south central Virginia, spent $27,488 and paid for trips to France for several legislators.
Other items lavished onto lawmakers included hunting trips and tickets to football games, galas and the circus.
