California Legislators' outside jobs raise questions about conflicts of interest

The L.A.Times reports:

Assemblyman Mike Eng, one of more than two dozen California lawmakers who hold outside jobs, was a steady vote for the Los Angeles Unified School District's interests this year at the same time his law firm was working for the district under a $550,000 contract.

A Democrat from Monterey Park who sits on the Assembly Education Committee, Eng voted multiple times for legislation sponsored by the district that allows it to obtain $267 million in extra state money.

His five-man law firm, meanwhile, collected $321,000 as part of its three-year deal from L.A. Unified, sometimes in payments made just weeks after Eng's vote. The payments were reported in district records as compensation for help in getting visas and processing paperwork for foreign teachers.

"Having legislators voting on bills that affect their sources of income raises questions of conflict of interest," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. "Who is their loyalty owed to, the state or their income sources?"

Eng didn't violate any laws, Stern said. California allows legislators to cast votes affecting their industries or professions as long as the measures apply generally and do not affect only one company or agency.

Some people make real big money off the government.