Please consider the following scenario: Newlandia, an ally of the U.S., has many friends here in Massachusetts, including some well-connected organizations with hired lobbyists. One of these organizations writes bills and resolutions useful to this foreign country (although opposed by many Massachusetts citizens), and arranges for friendly Massachusetts legislators to introduce them. The same organization also provides legislators with free trips to Newlandia.
Would you accept such a trip at about the same time that you were being asked to introduce or vote for the resolution or bill? Wouldn’t that strike you as an obvious conflict of interest?