Free trips for California lawmakers to continue

The L.A. Times reports:

State lawmakers on Wednesday derailed a bill that would have prevented them from accepting free travel to distant conferences, including an annual meeting in Maui, from nonprofit groups backed by special interests.

The Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee failed to muster a single vote for the bill by Assemblywoman Patty Lopez (D-San Fernando), with some Democrats voting "no" or not voting.

"I was both surprised and disappointed to see that my colleagues were willing to defend these types of trips, which obviously have no real value to our constituents," Lopez said after the vote.

"I was hopeful today's vote would prove it is something that needs to be addressed immediately," she added. "Instead, it only proved that the Sacramento establishment has no intention of limiting such influence.”

Politicians got into to politics to get rich , get free vacations , and get free meals.