The Post & Courier & Center for Public Integrity: Capitol Gains: S.C. lawmakers profit from government connections

Meredith McGehee is policy director at the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit opposed to the influence of big money on local and national politics. She said it's not realistic to ban part-time legislators from doing business with their state and local governments, especially in small states where the number of businesses in any particular field could be very small.

Such states need to erect safeguards, impose some restrictions and require a fair, open and transparent bidding and hiring process, McGehee said. Otherwise the deals will have “a fishy odor … there's opportunity for all kinds of mischief,” she said.

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