It has been said we have not changed the perception of the Congress through all the things we have done, and I think that is true. But we must continue to try. I think it is our obligation to keep trying, when public opinion polls come…

in all honesty, I have very carefully read this, and I read it again: A gift includes a charitable contribution made on the basis of a designation, recommendation, or other specification made to a lobbyist. Now, my friend from Michigan…

Is it not a fact that the Levin-Wellstone amendment allows the same thing, only while ours would be limited to $75, yours is unlimited, provided it is motivated by personal friendship, to be decided by the Member?

Mr. President, it is said that hard cases make bad law. That is a legal expression for the fact that when you have some tough circumstances, sometimes it leads to a rule of law, or a case, or precedent, which does a tremendous amount of…

would the Senator not agree with me that when on page 36 it defines ``gift'' as including a charitable contribution made on the basis of a designation, recommendation, or other specification made to a lobbyist or foreign agent by a Member…

All I am saying, I think that is entirely correct, and ours allows that. The difference is ours is limited to $75, yours is unlimited, except yours is close personal friend. All I am saying is that the Senator from Minnesota, in quavering…

The Senator just mentioned our bill allows for unlimited and undisclosed meals, et cetera, and listed four things dealing with meals, tickets and gifts.

Did the Senator know that in the last 2 years the Senate gave $1.3 million to charity on these direct fees?

It is my understanding of S. 1935 that it will be practically impossible for Members to make an effort, either directly or indirectly, to assist worthwhile causes--that is, tax-exempt, charitable entities.

Under the Senator's amendment, would he not agree with me that rather than to have three interpretative rulings on--I forget what it was the Senator said; three rulings for events? Would you really have to have an interpretative ruling on…

Let me ask the Senator, if what you say is true that 99.999 percent of the people in the country think ``these trips,'' you have in mind some trips other than what I have in mind----

I strongly recommend that my colleagues take the time to read this piece because it directly relates to the risk assessment and cost- benefit amendment that I plan to offer when the Safe Drinking Water bill reaches the floor. Mr. Samuelson…

I wonder, for example, about someone's fundraiser. If I go to a fundraiser by the Senator from Michigan and you have a bunch of lobbyists there who bring in contributions and I get a free ticket, I will tell you, that is indirectly paid…

Take whatever you want to. Let us say the tobacco industry goes to wherever you want to go to and they have fun and they do not do any serious work, we will say that is a bad trip. If you had to disclose that, do you think any Senator is…

let me begin our side of this debate by saying that this is a good faith effort on behalf of all Senators; deeply felt, but a good faith effort on behalf of all Senators. I want to begin by commending Senator Levin for excellent work in…

Suppose at the Opera Ball that most of the money comes from lobbyists and the Opera Ball Committee, which would be--widely invites people, but most of the money comes from lobbyists. It either comes from lobbyists or companies that are…

Yes. When you go to, say, the Opera Ball, I do not know what one of these dinners down here will cost. You go down at the hotel. I do not feel like I am really being entertained. I feel like I am doing when I go to those things at the…

Well, that is, ``Anything provided.'' The phrase ``anything provided'' does not sound like a bequest to me. The Senator may be right. He may be right. And I must tell you that bequests from a lobbyist are not my principal concern with this…

Do you say you should not go to the symphony ball, ambassador ball, National Guard, the opera ball, what have you?

I believe I have made the point I wanted to make, which was disclosure is the key. I do not doubt that there are some things I would not touch with a 10-foot pole and go to. I have not been on a ski trip, not because I think it is evil or…

I did not. I said this is vague; we do not know what the number is. And I do not want a number. I do not want the amendment. I am just illustrating how difficult this amendment is to comply with. It is a nightmare.

I am about to wind this up. But my friend, I think what he illustrates is that each and every event is going to require a special ruling from the Ethics Committee. Because, if what is in my head when I think about this event, whether it is…

It would sure make it a lot more expensive to do things that are ordinary parts of being a Senator as far as I am concerned.

So in effect, any involvement with charities by Senators, whether it is sponsoring a charity, whether it is being the honoree of the charity, whether it is using your name on the stationery, or being on a sponsoring committee, All of that…