Political Quotes

“the amendment I presented would strike from the committee substitute the provision which prohibits Members of Congress from receiving private reimbursement for travel, food and lodging in connection with a charitable event. Under this amendment such reimbursements would be permitted so long as the reimbursement was not made by a registered lobbyist or foreign agent. We have seen charitable events such as Senator Garn's Ski Cup, which goes for the Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. It would be prohibited for Members supporting that event as a consequence of the underlying amendment. In my State of Alaska, were we to attempt to have a charity event, we would be prohibited because transportation is not provided. The injustice of this is that under the committee substitute large charitable organizations that have the resources to have their fundraisers in Washington, DC will be able to invite Members of Congress to their events because, under the committee amendment, the underlying amendment, a Member of Congress may accept--and this is the injustice--a Member of Congress may accept an offer to attend such an event, even if the event is a $1000 a plate dinner to raise funds for whatever purpose. But we who are out in the west, out far away, simply are excluded from that opportunity. My amendment would allow reimbursement for lodging and transportation in connection with charitable events only.”