Posted on 11/22/2012 5:47:42 PM PST by Steelfish
New California Legislators Get A Warm Welcome — From Lobbyists The incoming lawmakers are taken on trips to places like Hawaii, China, Brazil and New Zealand. Some Democratic freshmen enjoy a luxury suite at a basketball game in Sacramento.
Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) and other veteran legislative leaders attended a Sacramento Kings game in AT&T's suite at the Sleep Train Arena with more than a dozen Democratic freshmen state lawmakers. By Patrick McGreevy November 22, 2012 SACRAMENTO — The day after being elected to the state Assembly, several incoming lawmakers were in AT&T's luxury suite at the Sacramento sports arena, watching the Kings with the company's top Capitol executive.
The next day, the California Dental Assn. feted the state's freshman legislators. That was before more than 20 legislators jetted off to Hawaii, China, Brazil, New Zealand and other locales — with some trips paid for in large part by healthcare, energy and communications companies.
"It's the start of lobbyists inculcating them, saying 'Hey guys, line up and receive your gifts,' " said Bob Stern, former chief counsel to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
It's a new day in Sacramento, with one of the largest-ever freshman classes elected in districts drawn for the first time by an independent, bipartisan commission.
And the lobbying campaign to shape their minds has begun.
The intent of the redistricting — as well as a rule change that allows lawmakers to serve up to 12 years in either legislative house — was to make the Capitol more accountable. In theory, the changes would reduce the influence of lobbyists and give lawmakers more time to gain expertise and independence.
But old traditions die hard.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) is California’s openly gay, short, ugly, filthy, fat, sodomite Speaker!
These filthy corrupt socialist bastards will extract their revenge on the California taxpayer.
Where’s our present day Howard Jarvis?
I fear even worse, they’ll simply ditch them, and have too much time partying to care about ‘em.
And ironically the “socialist bastards” continue to be elected by those who feed at the public trough. From one sets of pigs to another, they’ve turned the golden state into a massive pigsty.
As an employee of a major defense contractor that has to take yearly “ethics training” mandated by gubmit customers, I can say that if we did anything like this we’d be fired immediately. But if you work for the hyper-hypocritical & lawless gubmit itself, well then you can do whatever the hell you want. The double standard is beyond sickening.
California, lol.
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