This week, Democrats in the Virginia House and Senate introduced a sweeping package of ethics reforms that would prevent scandals like those involving former GOP Rep. Phil Hamilton. Hamilton came under fire last year when officials learned that he negotiated a job offer for himself with Old Dominion university even as he worked to secure public funds for the school.

The bill would create a five-member ethics advisory panel, which would be empowered to investigate potential misconduct by lawmakers -- even if they resign -- and hold meetings in public.

Additionally, the bill would require:

--A legislator to disclose any wages or salary paid to him or an immediate member of his family, regardless of the amount, by a state or local government or advisory agency employer:

--the Clerks of the House and Senate to establish a searchable electronic database, available to the public through the Internet, containing the information from the disclosure of personal interests statements filed by legislators, legislators-elect, and candidates for the General Assembly.

--That payments to a member for office expenses and supplies may be made only upon the member's submission of a voucher for the expenses.

--A member of the General Assembly to disclose in his annual disclosure of personal interests any salary and wages in excess of $10,000 paid to him or his immediate family for employment with a state or local government or advisory agency.

If passed, the legislation would be the first overhaul of Virginia's General Assembly Conflicts of Interest statutes in more than 20 years.