Political Quotes

“The reimbursement which he is referring to, as I understand it, in his amendment is not reimbursement which is permitted under this bill. It is an interpretive ruling, No. 189, of existing rules and laws. If the Senator from Alaska thinks that that should be changed so that people cannot be reimbursed from their own campaign funds to go to a political function, then the Senator from Alaska should offer an amendment to tighten that restriction. But to throw out the key provision of this committee substitute, which is to end the kind of so-called charitable, but very significant, recreational trips which are taken by Members of Congress and paid for by the interests in this country that want to hobnob with Members of Congress at those events, would be a total reversal of what we did this morning. The Johnston amendment permitted this kind of recreational travel to a so-called charitable event. Our committee substitute does not do it. If you want to know what the issue really is--I have these at the desk; we do not have the time to debate it--read the transcripts of the TV shows that describe these events. Each of us has to decide in our own conscience whether or not we believe credibility is contributed to with these kinds of events.”