Clifford Nagle: Legislators’ trips to Hawaii are about freebies, not ‘relationships’
Re “Inside lawmakers’ paid trips to Maui” (Page 1B, Nov. 20): A trip to Hawaii for a number of legislators, paid for by lobbyists, points up a few facts. Prof. Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna College pointed out that if lawmakers wanted to learn more about California, they could have gone to Fresno. A letter writer to The Bee (“Relationships built on gift to officials,” Nov. 29) questioned the validity of the stated reason for the trip. Finally, the article pointed out that some lawmakers were not comfortable with a reporter observing the discussions, noting they were “terrified they will be criticized.”
There is little doubt voters were not, and will not be, taken in by the phony justifications for such trips.
Just as bad is the audacity of Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen insulting the intelligence of her constituents with a weak attempt to rationalize her participation.
If Olsen wants to “build relationships” across the aisle, why not walk across the aisle, offer your hand to a Democrat you don’t know and take them to lunch to get acquainted. As far as the lobbyists attending, I would bet they enjoy much greater access and a much cozier relationship with the politicians than do their constituents.
Clifford Nagle, Riverbank
This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Clifford Nagle: Legislators’ trips to Hawaii are about freebies, not ‘relationships’."