EAO 273

Whether a member of the legislature may accept a speaking fee depends on the motivation of the person requesting that the legislator speak. Although the permissibility of any particular fee must be determined on a case-by-case basis, the fact that a legislator received fees for speaking before becoming a member of the legislature is certainly strong evidence that the legislator is a desirable speaker for reasons other than his status as a member of the legislature. A legislator may accept expenses for travel, lodging, and meals in connection with a speaking engagement even if the honorarium provision prohibits the acceptance of a fee for the speaking engagement.