Incorrect answer:

YES. With sluggish economic growth, the legislation is vital for creating jobs and members need to put aside their private qualms about ethics and enact good programs is INCORRECT.

Whether or not any particular piece of legislation has merit on public policy grounds is irrelevant to the ethical duty incumbent upon all members to analyze carefully and thoughtfully any potential conflicts of interest in connection with each vote cast as a member of the General Assembly and to follow all applicable requirements if that analysis leads to the conclusion that a conflict of interest is present. If the facts demonstrate that a conflict of interest is present, you are required by law to disclose the conflict and abstain from voting. Where a conflict of interest is present, disclosure and abstention does not indicate merely private qualms but compliance with the ethical requirement you are obligated to follow as a member of the General Assembly.

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