Dianne Feinstein: “I believe our side would accept the amendment if it were, in fact, prospective. The amendment has a complicating factor…”

“I believe our side would accept the amendment if it were, in fact, prospective. The amendment has a complicating factor in addition to that; that is, there is a prohibition against any official contact with any spouse of a Member who is a registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Now, what is official contact? Does this mean the spouse, if he or she happens to have been a lobbyist for a substantial period of time, cannot attend the Supreme Court dinner which just took place? That could be interpreted as an official contact. Is it an official contact if the individual calls the scheduler of her husband's or his wife's office and asks for some information on the schedule? I am surprised-- and I didn't know this--that this amendment has the words 'official contact.' You can be sure that even if it said: Well, it is not an official contact, that someone will make the argument: Oh yes, it is an official contact if you attend the Supreme Court dinner with your spouse. Again, I would repeat, this is retroactive legislation. We know it affects people in this body who have worked, helped support their families.”