I do not believe that not being able to accept gifts under $20 meets my test of what we were trying to achieve here, something which is tough, simple, and rational. I think the reason for the $20 exception was precisely the same reason as…

If you want her to solicit from a lobbyist, or if she does solicit from the lobbyist--if you mean under your hypothesis from the corporation--that is also permitted.

Let me read the exact language: ``No Member, officer, or employee of the Senate, or the spouse or dependent thereof.'' It is exactly the same language as the current rule.

The rules apply to your daughter as they have since 1989. However, there is a personal friendship exemption which I know would cover the situation that the Senator from Alaska outlines.

We have to draw a line somewhere. You draw a line, and you keep all the exceptions.

the amendment of the Senator from Oklahoma and the Senator from Arizona is acceptable to me. It will strengthen the postemployment rules that are applicable to senior executive branch officials, Members of Congress, and congressional…

I understand that. If that is a real possibility, if I wanted to accept a bottle of wine every single day worth $20 or less, I would ask the Ethics Committee, can I do it? But I have to tell you, there is an easy answer to that. I would…

The issue is really the same today, because the Senator could take gifts now under $100. The question is, does that create any kind of impression? If you really had a problem with that, if you in your good conscience, and you have a good…

She can solicit a lobbyist for a charitable contribution. You cannot. Both of----

You can solicit. You can solicit from a charity. So could she. You cannot solicit from a lobbyist. So the answer to your question----

There is a proposal, however, that is acceptable to me as one Member that we keep the current limit of $250 on a gift from any source with a waiver possible from the Ethics Committee. That is the current rule which is that you have a…

One is to the lobbyist and one is to the world. There is a big difference. Now, as a matter of fact, it is very similar--if I could finish--it is similar to what the executive branch did, which we, by vote of 98 to 1, said a year ago we…

If I can finish with this thought, and then I will be happy to yield. You can participate in charitable events, tournaments, tennis tournaments, golf tournaments, and ski events. Charities can waive a participation fee. You can participate…

First, Mr. President, let me say that I concur with the Senator from Louisiana on at least one thing--that it is important that our colleagues read these bills and understand them. The Governmental Affairs Committee has come up with a…

If someone gave your daughter now something greater than-- now--something greater than $250 from any source, she would be covered now, under current rules. So in terms of the coverage of your daughter, your daughter is covered under the…

It is in the judgment of the Member if it is a close personal friend, as we have outlined it in this substitute which the Governmental Affairs Committee has approved. The answer is correct, and that is an exception which I think most…

We can check that out. But let me also assure the Senator that the reason it does not is because the legal defense fund is a different entity. Under the current gift rule and under the committee substitute, it is a different entity. If it…

I wonder, while the Senator is thinking if I could respond to the Senator's points because there were a number of things which were not accurate in the summary of the Senator from Arkansas. First of all, you do not have to report the meals…

The amendment would not prohibit the Senator from Alaska from receiving fish, or other home State products, and distributing them to the public or Members as he sees fit, just as under the current law. As to the disclosure requirement, it…

The contribution that the Senator referred to is to a legal defense fund. That is not covered by the $20 rule unless there is a contribution by a registered lobbyist, as I have read. It is permitted for others to make a contribution to the…

Under current law, you do not have to disclose it. That was not accurately described by the Senator's statement. Second, meals do not count at all under current law. They do not even count against the $100 or the $250. They do not count at…

There is no criminal prosecution under this substitute that the committee has adopted. It is an Ethics Committee enforcement, as our current rules are, unlike the Lautenberg-Wellstone bill originally which had Justice Department…

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee substitute specifically says that the only payment or the only contribution to a legal defense fund which is established for the benefit of a Member that is prohibited is the contribution or other…

It means the current Senate rule has the same problem which my friend from Alaska describes. The current Senate rule applies to spouses. Do we have a constitutional right to apply that rule to spouses or to dependents? The answer is that…

Mr. President, as I started to say just about a year ago tomorrow, we voted 98 to 1 to support a resolution to amend the Senate gift rules to make them ``substantially similar to restrictions applicable to executive branch officials.''…