Carl Levin said "I cannot. The Senator asked me a question whether or not that be would be OK. The answer is not if a reasonable person would be led to believe that you are using public office for private gain. That is the same, I may say, as the executive branch rule. I want to emphasize this. I think it is really important that this body decided a year ago that we wanted in general to pattern our gifts on stricter executive branch rules. The same question can be asked of Secretary Bentsen, the exact same question under executive branch rules: Can someone walk into your office every day and drop off a bottle of wine worth $20 without violating the executive branch rules. And the answer is under the Senator's hypothetical situated there not a registered lobbyist, and so forth. If that does not create this impression, then they can do it." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordMay 5, 1994

I cannot. The Senator asked me a question whether or not that be would be OK. The answer is not if a reasonable person would be led to believe that you are using public office for private gain. That is the same, I may say, as the executive branch rule. I want to emphasize this. I think it is really important that this body decided a year ago that we wanted in general to pattern our gifts on stricter executive branch rules. The same question can be asked of Secretary Bentsen, the exact same question under executive branch rules: Can someone walk into your office every day and drop off a bottle of wine worth $20 without violating the executive branch rules. And the answer is under the Senator's hypothetical situated there not a registered lobbyist, and so forth. If that does not create this impression, then they can do it.

Said by

Carl Levin

Democratic · Michigan

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the ethical implications of accepting gifts in relation to public office and executive branch rules.

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