Judd Gregg: “I only perceive this as leveling if you perceive the north slope of some mountain in the Himalayas, Mount Everest, for…”

“I only perceive this as leveling if you perceive the north slope of some mountain in the Himalayas, Mount Everest, for example, to be level. The fact is, this is not a leveling bill. The fact is, this bill, because it fails to address the independent expenditure issue, is a bill which, were this a teeter-totter, would have one side directly up in the air and the other side directly on the ground. We have to realize that under this bill one of the core elements of what I consider to be inappropriate activity in the political area, but which others would consider to be good politics, as they are supported by it, is not addressed at all. It was in March, for example, that the AFL-CIO held a rather unique convention here in Washington, where they voted, as an institution, to levy a special assessment on their membership, which assessment was meant to raise approximately $25 million of a $35 million goal dedicated to defeating Republicans. There was no other purpose. It was openly stated. They were going to spend $35 million for the purpose of defeating Republicans.”