Experience adds to integrity

Re “Lawmakers’ outside jobs raise questions,” Nov. 28

A broad application of a conflict-of-interest test could effectively disqualify any Californian from serving in the Legislature. We “citizen legislators” are the sum of our past experiences. Our experience is the compass that guides us.

I come to the Legislature from the automobile business. I come also as a father, an accountant, a local government alumnus and a human being. Were we even able to sequester our extra-legislative lives from our legislative lives, would we want to? Are we so paranoid about perceived conflict that we’d prefer representatives who are blank slates? Would this be in the best interest of California?

The important thing is not whether our experiences enter into our deliberative calculus, but that we elect people with backgrounds we know and integrity we trust.

Assemblyman Roger

Niello

(R-Fair Oaks)