On the presidential campaign trail, Gov. Rick Perry waxed eloquent about the merits of Texas' part-time Legislature, saying that Congress would be more effective if its members had "real jobs back at home."

"We're the 13th-largest economy in the world in Texas," Mr. Perry said, "and we come to Austin for 140 days every other year, and it works wonderfully."

Wonderfully, it turns out, for some of those elected.

Lawmakers, who are paid $7,200 per year and a per diem by taxpayers for days they spend on official business, need to make a living elsewhere, and the prestige and influence of their office can help them do it.