Case study 1: Pyramid of cash

House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, is an interesting portrait of how money and privilege follow political fortune.

In 2008, Ralston chaired the Non-Civil Judiciary Committee, which vets legislation affecting the state’s criminal justice system but doesn’t appeal greatly to lobbyists and PACs.

Then Ralston challenged Glenn Richardson for the speakership and lost. As payback, Richardson stripped him of his committee chairmanship.

By the end of 2009, Richardson had resigned in disgrace, and Ralston became House speaker. In 2010, Ralston’s lobbyist gifts increased by more than 728 percent over 2009, and his campaign contributions went up by nearly 1,300 percent.

In 2011, lobbyists spent $35,543, including an infamous trip for Ralston, his family and staffers to view high-speed trains in Europe.

Year Lobbyist spending Campaign contributions

2008 $2,872 $53,250

2009 $2,160 $34,350

2010 $17,879 $471,105

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