Bob Kerrey: “I don't know on what basis the distinguished Senator from Delaware answers the question that, yes, it is like giving an…”

“I don't know on what basis the distinguished Senator from Delaware answers the question that, yes, it is like giving an exemption to bribery law. In our own report, we say the rules related to bribery would continue to apply. I mean, that is a red herring, raising the issue of bribery. Look, I feel like I am arguing the red queen here. We made a decision as a consequence of an overriding interest that we want a Treasury employee representative on this board. Why? What is the interest? Do you want to get the restructuring done or not? No? You are opposed to it? Fine. Say no. But our Commission heard from people, both in the private sector and the public sector, that have done this sort of thing. They said, ``Folks, if you want to get the job done''-- understand we're talking about traumatic changes in how people work. You can imagine, we would want a Senate representative on a board that was going to be restructuring this place. Do you think anybody would say, ``Gee, we've got a conflict. We can't sit on a board that might reduce the number of people here from 100 to 80"? I don't think so. I think one of us would want to be on that board. And we would write to the Office of Government Ethics and say, ``To heck with you. We'll figure out a way to get it done.'' That is what we are talking about here. The employee representative will enable us to get the job done. We have to have a substantial reduction in forces as a consequence of this restructuring.”