Your recent editorial (“Legislators should have skipped Israel trip”; Oct 4) correctly identifies the moral bankruptcy on display by those who were wined and dined by a government intent on erasing the population of Gaza through violence and starvation. To call it “incredibly naïve,” however, misses the additional point that five Vermont House members have violated the state’s Code of Ethics, which “applies to all elected or appointed officers, General Assembly Members,” and others in state government. (3 V.S.A. § 1202.)
The chapter in Vermont law titled “Governmental Ethics,” defines the term “gift” to include “anything of value, tangible or intangible, that is bestowed for less than adequate consideration, including travel expenses such as travel fare, room and board, and other expenses associated with travel.”
The Code of Ethics says that a “public servant shall not solicit or accept a gift unless permitted under this section.” (3 V.S.A. § 1203g.) There are exceptions for gifts that a public servant may accept, but not those received by the legislators, “which included airfare, lodging, meals and transportation within (Israel)” as your editorial acknowledges.
The term “lobbying” is defined in Vermont law (2 V.S.A. § 261). The government of Israel was obviously lobbying the five Vermont legislators and the 245 legislators from other states. According to VTDigger, the legislators, some of whom have leadership roles in the Vermont House, were urged by the Israeli Foreign Minister to pass legislation to hinder Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.
These legislators must be held accountable for accepting very valuable gifts from a foreign government with the express purpose of influencing Vermont legislation. Shame on them.