Democratic legislator paid as political consultant

Chris Blank of AP reports that Green Balloon Man Rod Jetton is not the only one to act as a political consultant to a fellow legislator, an act that has been targeted by ethics bills proposed by members of both parties.

Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart, owns a political consulting company that received $30,000 for working on Sam Page's unsuccessful try at lieutenant governor in 2008. Again, as so often happens, the excuse being offered is how little money our politicians make:

Roorda said Monday that Page was his only political client and that campaign work was done after the legislative session ended. Roorda said he doesn't plan to take any clients for the 2010 elections, and that the consulting business also does marketing work for a health care billing company.

Roorda noted lawmakers are in session only from January until May and earn an annual salary of about $35,000.

"We don't make enough money to not work the other seven months of the year, and campaigns is what we have experience working on," he said.