STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
PATRICK MORRISEY
Phone: 304-558-2021
Email: communications@wvago.gov

Press Release

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Announces Comprehensive Ethics Plan

CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced today his office is implementing a comprehensive new ethics package, which includes reforming state “revolving door” policies, implementing competitive bidding for outside counsel appointments, and banning the use of “trinkets” and other self-promotional materials which bear his name. The new ethics reform package is part of Morrisey’s comprehensive 17-point plan for his first 100 days in office as Attorney General.

“As Attorney General, I intend to run our Office with the highest of ethical standards. That means we will no longer use state settlement funds on trinkets and other materials which appear to have no purpose other than self-promotion,” said Attorney General Morrisey. “I also think that state government, as a whole, should hold itself to a higher standard when it comes to the use of West Virginians’ tax dollars. The era of taxpayer-funded self-promotion needs to end across all government.”

Attorney General Morrisey’s announced ethics reform package is part of a broader effort to reform the culture of corruption that has engrained itself in politics.

Key measures of Attorney General Morrisey’s new policy proposals include:

• A Resolution for a Constitutional Amendment limiting the Attorney General to two consecutive terms in office;
• Conflicts of Interest policies which will provide greater transparency and prevent improper collusion between public and private entities;
• A substantive, competitive bidding process for outside counsel appointments, which eliminates the potential for abuse and ensures that the State always obtains the best legal representation at the maximum benefit to taxpayers; and,
• A ban on the purchase of trinkets (such as pens, pencils, magnets, and pill boxes) that include the Attorney General’s name or likeness, and an election year prohibition on public advertising (television, radio, newspaper, billboard advertisements, etc.) which bears the name or likeness of the Attorney General.
• A prohibition on the use of state vehicles by the Attorney General during parades.

“This is an important first step in our commitment to ethics reform and the end of wasteful spending in both the Office of Attorney General and state government as a whole,” noted Morrisey. “I ran for public office because I wanted to take a stand against these abuses, and I fully intend on following through with my promises and pledges to the citizens of the State of West Virginia.”