Herb Kohl: “we have accepted amendment No. 940, but I do want to mention that we may need to fine-tune it in conference. The reason…”

“we have accepted amendment No. 940, but I do want to mention that we may need to fine-tune it in conference. The reason is that, as currently drafted, the proposal is somewhat ambiguous. And for that reason, the Justice Department has told us that it has serious concerns about the amendment. Now, I read the language to apply prospectively; that is, to people who are subsequently convicted of a crime--but not to those employees who were convicted years ago--or at any time prior to when this proposal becomes law. And I also believe that parts (a)(1) and (a)(2) should be read conjunctively; that is, to apply to government employees who are convicted of drug-related bribery--but not to employees who are convicted of either bribery or drug-related crimes alone. We have talked to Senator Coverdell's staff and they are willing to work on the language of the amendment to make this clear and I am optimistic that we can write it to everybody's satisfaction in conference.”