The March 24 editorial “Virginia gets an ‘F ’ ” claimed that Virginia’s laws invite corruption and cited a new study by the Center for Public Integrity that rated the states on their corruption risk and pointed out that Virginia is one of just a few states “with no campaign finance limits.”
In fact, no link has been established between corrupt or poorly managed state governments and unlimited campaign contributions. Five of the eight states with grades of B-plus or better in the most recent Governing magazine’s reporton quality of management and state performance had no individual contribution limits to either parties or candidates.
Contribution limits help keep entrenched incumbents in power. Removing the limits would increase competition and help voters fire the corrupt and inefficient.
David Keating, Alexandria
The writer is president of the Center for Competitive Politics.
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Ever since Watergate, we have been treated to the false notion that more regulations, requirements, ethics forms, ethics commissions and other watchdogs will prevent corruption in government. The Center for Public Integrity perpetuated the notion in its report card on Virginia.
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