Mike Levin: “I thank the Senator for that response, and I also point out that response comes from the chairman of the Rules…”

“I thank the Senator for that response, and I also point out that response comes from the chairman of the Rules Committee, who is a sponsor of the pending resolution. This Senate, I think, has a right to traditionally place great stock in the sponsors' interpretation of his own resolution. That is precisely what I believe the Senate will be doing when we vote, because even though we differ as to whether or not the scope should get to practices which should be made illegal, practices which are offensive, or practices which violate what the public wants us to be doing, nonetheless the fact that the chairman of the Rules Committee is asserting to the Senate that the word illegal in his judgment and his intention as the drafter of this resolution goes to both--goes to any violation of law, not just a criminal violation, is a very important statement for the Senate and for the future of this investigation. Following that statement, I ask my good friend from Virginia the following: That under his interpretation, therefore, would the Governmental Affairs Committee be able to investigate violations of the Federal Elections Campaign Act?”