OTHER STATES: Kansas

Another great feature of part-time legislatures is that you always know what other business ventures a legislator is involved with for their other job. This is a great example in Kansas, where a part-time legislator has a conflict of interest between her other job and her role as a legislator and it's immediately obvious to everyone:

A state Democratic Party official criticized Rep. Shari Weber, R-Herington, on Thursday for fighting against a bill that might negatively impact members of the association she leads.

Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Gaughan said Weber, the president of a group representing local banks, was putting her own interests ahead of her constituents in opposing a banking bill dealing with the investment of local public funds.

"Kansas has a part-time Legislature, but Shari Weber is acting like a full-time lobbyist," Gaughan said. "Rep. Weber needs to remember she's an employee of the people of Kansas first."