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Measure would let legislators with conflict get out of a vote
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OH MY, the legislature just gets in worse and worse shape. Now they shouldn't even make decisions for themselves? They're just supposed to do what they're told? If they have an idea that doesn't go with the flow they're told to abstain?
I really think this is wrong on so very many levels. I'm not sure what we, as citizens can do, but it's obvious something needs to be done to get the legislature serving the public interests, not their own.
Legislators, who are teachers by profession, may well have a conflict of interest in voting teacher pay-hikes...but there was no real legislative accommodation. The same has been true for individuals employed directly or indirectly by the various other state agencies when the legislators have been called upon to decide agency budget issues.
The only suggestion I might offer for consideration would be to perhaps have a panel of retired judges deciding to either permit legislators to recuse themselves, require their vote, or demand individual legislators be excused on votes where a conflict of interest is identified or disclosed. The legislature could thus circumvent the obvious accusation by partisans that leadership decisions & rulings on fiscal conflicts of interest would be motivated for political reasons and abused to support their own legislative agendas.
It's about time.
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This is a ridiculous concern because a bill would still require 38 votes to pass so "forcing" someone to abstain is the same as voting no.