Most state legislatures are only part time, so when not in session they have full time jobs. That's actually how the US founders wanted it to ensure that politicians stayed "of the people" and couldn't escape the effects of their governing. "They will never vote a rod against themselves" (can't remember who said this so take with a grain of salt but it's stuck in my memory). At some point though the Federal legislators decided to give themselves full time jobs. At this point now most probably make enough money insider-trading stocks (yes the same thing that gets a normal citizen jailed), so they probably wouldn't have to work when out of session anyway.