Bob Dole: “I was just meeting with a group of Kansans. They said, ``Well, what is going on in the Senate?'' I did not want to tell…”

“I was just meeting with a group of Kansans. They said, ``Well, what is going on in the Senate?'' I did not want to tell them--I did not think they would believe it--but I did. I said, ``They are debating whether or not I could go out and have lunch with you.'' They thought I was kidding. So here we are again. Maybe a few will benefit from this. I cannot remember the last time I had lunch or dinner with a lobbyist. I do not do that. I cannot remember. It must have been years ago. I have not gone to any golf tournaments or tennis tournaments. I do not even visit embassies. But some people do. I do raise about $1.5 million each year to help Americans with disabilities--and that would be precluded under the Levin proposal-- because of the Dole Foundation; lobbyists may contribute to Dole Foundation. I do not have any family members involved; a staff of five. I think we have helped quite a few people around America. It is not just a Kansas operation. It is very small, but it is very important. I guess the broader question is: What are we trying to do? Certainly there must be some reasonable limit. There probably have been some abuses, maybe by Members, maybe by staff. I am not certain whether I understand the definitions of ``lobbyists.'' When I solicit money for the Dole Foundation, I do not write to the lobbyists, I write to the CEO. Now, would a CEO be a lobbyist, I ask the distinguished manager?”