Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska complained on the Senate floor that a lobbying reform bill would ruin his social life by ending lobbyist-sponsored parties and free tickets to the opera, and would also prevent lobbyists from picking up the tab after an expensive dinner. Lest he be accused of selfishness, he also voiced concern on behalf of the local economy, stating that "ninety percent" of restaurants in Washington would go out of business and that the Kennedy Center for the Arts would turn into a ghost hall.

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