Parra's travel to South Africa, Ashburn's to Taiwan among the most expensive.

SACRAMENTO -- Central San Joaquin Valley state lawmakers last year collected more than $33,000 in gifts -- from pro sports tickets to overseas trips -- from corporations and interest groups, according to recent filings. Assembly Member Nicole Parra had the biggest haul by far. The Hanford Democrat reported 65 gifts with a total value of $20,122. That includes $14,998 for a trip to South Africa underwritten by a nonprofit group that gets money from energy companies.

Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, was next with $4,375 , including $3,485 for a trip to Taiwan sponsored by the country's ministry of foreign affairs.

The gifts and trip reimbursements are perfectly legal and detailed on annual filings made with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

But good government advocates say some of the gifts raise eyebrows.
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