Mike Eng's LAUSD contracts questioned by LA Times

The article, which is about conflicts of interest for legislators throughout the state, leads with San Gabriel Valley legislator Mike Eng:

Assemblyman Mike Eng, one of more than two dozen California lawmakers who hold outside jobs, was a steady vote for the Los Angeles Unified School District's interests this year at the same time his law firm was working for the district under a $550,000 contract.

Frankly, I see articles like this written all the time, and the conflicts of interests, questionable campaign spending, trips paid for by special interests, etc. never change. These kinds of conflicts of interest do always beg the question of whether the legislator would vote differently if they did not have that conflict: most of the time they probably wouldn't. But by not recusing themselves they leave the question open.

Most of the time, local officials, for example, would not dare to avoid recusing themselves in situations like the ones described in the article- when they don't, they incur the wrath of angry local activists who stand up at each meeting and accuse them of corruption. Maybe if there was a public comment session at the state legislative sessions you might see more lawmakers looking to steer clear of conflicts of interest. Now, there is an idea.