Russ Feingold: “The Reid amendment draws a bright line. Groups that employ or retain lobbyists could not provide trips of over 1 day.…”

“The Reid amendment draws a bright line. Groups that employ or retain lobbyists could not provide trips of over 1 day. The Bennett amendment allows 501(c)(3)s that lobby to provide trips. There is a limitation that will prevent this amendment from becoming a loophole that will lead to kinds of abuses we saw with Jack Abramoff and his trips to Scotland. If these groups don't lobby, there is no limitation; they can do this. That means, unlike what the Senator from Utah said, the Aspen Institute would not be prohibited under the Reid amendment. We must defeat this amendment to keep our rules parallel to the House rules and prevent lobbyists from funding these trips.”