Ted Stevens: “I think Senator Murkowski has a point. I believe every Senator here has attended political fundraising events that have…”

“I think Senator Murkowski has a point. I believe every Senator here has attended political fundraising events that have included the same kind of entertainment that has been criticized so harshly. Whether it is to go to a movie in Los Angeles or go to a golf event in Florida, if it is for political purposes, a Senator may go and have the amount completely reimbursed by the candidate's political action committee or the party that is raising money for another Senator or for any other candidate, and it is deemed to be acceptable. But if we have the same kind of event in Alaska, as Senator Murkowski has arranged this year, to raise money for a new breast cancer device for our State, that is not allowed. I do not believe that that duplicity should be carried forward in this bill, and I support Senator Murkowski's concept that if it is legal to have such allowance for travel for hotel bills, for expenses and for entertainment for political purposes, it is just as legal to do that for charitable purposes.”