These NY Dems are feeling way too safe in their seats

[Rose Siding]

Christmas is coming, and some state lawmakers snatched up early gifts - using perks regular taxpayers can only dream about.
On Wednesday night, dozens of Democratic legislators were among a special-invitation crowd at the upscale clothing store Century 21 on Cortland St. With the store closed to the public, VIP shoppers used 40%-off coupons to snap up bargains in a sale the store says benefited charity.

More lawmakers might have taken advantage of the private spree, except it came on the same night they were offered free Knicks tickets courtesy of the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.
.........
Assembly Ethics Committee Chairman Mark Weprin (D-Queens) acknowledged he used the coupons, but said the slashed prices would not compromise him.

Still, he conceded Albany is in need of a host of other reforms.

"We have lost the public trust, and when you have a representative democracy, you need to have the public to have faith in their elected representatives," Weprin said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/259582p-222341c.html

It's just the Daily News and maybe "they all do it", but this smells. Too many dems across the country readjusted their grocery budgets this year -some to support candidates and some just to get by- for this to be acceptable. Is there nothing that could influence pols to even try to avoid the appearance of impropriety?