Lawmakers send double-dipping ban to governor

A body which once had dozens of members who worked for state government voted just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday to prohibit state lawmakers from holding another job in state government.
The Legislature voted to stop lawmakers from serving in the House or Senate while also holding a job at a state agency, in the two-year college system, a four-year university, or in a K-12 school. The State Board of Education voted to stop lawmakers from working in the two-year system, but the bill approved by legislators would give them and others working for the state until the election in 2014 to decide between their state job and their legislative seat.
Republicans pushed for the so-called double dipping ban after widespread corruption in the two-year college system that led to the conviction of the chancellor, state lawmakers, and some top college officials.
The House and Senate reached an agreement on the bill late Wednesday.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen