[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13677-S13678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         AN INVASION OF PRIVACY

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I would like to speak this morning 
relative to an incident that occurred last Tuesday, and I think, if I 
recall correctly, the senior Senator from West Virginia also had such 
an incident which, to me, amounted to a certain invasion of privacy.
  Last Tuesday, Mr. President, I was leaving my home to walk to my car 
and, as I rounded the corner, a neighbor asked me why someone was 
videotaping our block. I smiled at her and said, ``Well, I have no 
idea.'' As I came around the corner, I was confronted by a news crew 
from an organization called ``A Current Affair.'' As I attempted to 
walk toward my car, I found that there was a request for an interview. 
I said, ``We have a number of votes and I am sorry, but I have to go to 
work.'' As I proceeded to walk toward my car, I was confronted not only 
with the microphone and a cameraman, but somebody carrying the cord and 
a couple of other people and, I assume, a director.
  I said, ``I am sorry, but if you want an interview I would be happy 
to accommodate you at my office.''
  Well, as I began to get closer and closer to the car, I finally 
became aware that there was a question that was forthcoming, and it 
was, ``Why have you voted against the highway bill?'' I said, ``You 
have the wrong Senator. I have no jurisdiction over highways. You must 
want somebody else.'' I was thinking of Trent Lott who lives next door. 
But clearly they were not after Trent Lott; they were after me.
  The next question was, ``Senator, why did you vote against the 
highway funding legislation and vote for logging roads?'' I responded 
by saying, ``You really do not know anything about logging roads,'' and 
I went to my car and I closed the door and they said, ``Well, you have 
some stock in one of the logging companies in Alaska.'' I responded by 
saying, ``No, I do not have that stock,'' closed the door and backed 
out.
  Then I found that later on in the day this organization from ``A 
Current Affair'' had contacted my stockbroker after we had released a 
public statement, and I will have that printed in the Record, relative 
to the disposal of some of my holdings in natural resource stocks.
  They had the gall to suggest that perhaps my broker had predated or 
backdated the letter, indicating the actual date on which I sold my 
stock.
  Now, Mr. President, we are all victims of living in a glasshouse in 
our particular business, but I find this kind of activity a personal 
affront to my own integrity and my own personal affairs. 

[[Page S 13678]]

  Nevertheless, I think that we are all subject to this kind of 
harassment from time to time, but I did want the Record to note the 
circumstances surrounding this particular event.
  As a consequence, Mr. President, of allegations concerning private 
holdings that I have had in various resource companies that I have held 
for a number of years--some for as many as 40 years have been held in 
my family--and criticism associated with that, when I first came to 
this body I declared all my personal holdings.
  There was criticism from some that I should sell those holdings 
because I did have small amounts in organizations such as Chevron 
Corp., James River, Louisiana Pacific, RTZ, Champion International.
  Then I moved the shares into a blind trust, Mr. President, and moved 
my assets into a blind trust. Then I was criticized for hiding my 
assets.
  Again, after a short period of time, having placed my assets in a 
blind trust, I released them and have publicly disclosed all of them 
ever since.
  As a consequence, Mr. President, I have absolutely nothing to hide 
about my personal investments. I try to invest in my home State of 
Alaska, developing resources and creating jobs. I think that is 
probably the best evidence of my commitment to my State of Alaska.
  All my interests are disclosed publicly, and the fact that a producer 
from ``A Current Affair'' thinks they bear some kind of additional 
public disclosure, why, they are certainly welcome to that conclusion.
  The bottom line, evidently, Mr. President, is that ``A Current 
Affair'' intends to do some kind of expose on logging in my State. I 
have had my press secretary cooperating with them, giving them the 
names of knowledgeable people in Alaska and Sitka, Ketchikan that they 
can contact with regard to the specifics of any question regarding 
logging in our State on public lands.
  Mr. President, for the Record I supply a statement from my broker to 
be printed in the Record dated July 20, 1995, verifying the following 
securities were sold on July 17, 1995, covering Champion International, 
Chevron Corp., James River, Louisiana Pacific, and RTZ. The value of 
those stocks at the time they were sold was $57,272.89.
  I also ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record that 
these stock holdings were sold 4 days prior to the introduction of 
legislation covering the Southeast Alaska Jobs and Community Protection 
Act which proposes to expand the timber harvest in the Tongass National 
Forest. These were done prior to any substantive action occurring on 
the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil exploration 
development or before my committee, the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources, subsequently took up the debate on the mining reform 
legislation.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.,

                                    Alexandria, VA, July 20, 1995.
     Re Account number, name of Frank H. Murkowski and Nancy G. 
         Murkowski.

     Senator Frank H. Murkowski,
     Washington DC.
       Dear Senator Murkowski: This is to verify that the 
     following securities were sold on July 17, 1995 from the 
     above account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Security                         Shares    Amount 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Champion Intl Corp..................................      100  $5,638.30
Chevron Corp........................................      324  15,307.79
James River Corp....................................      395  10,532,13
Louisiana Pacific...................................      750  20,068.87
RTZ Corp PLC ADR....................................      100   5,725.80
                                                     -------------------
    Total...........................................  .......  57,272.89
------------------------------------------------------------------------

           Sincerely,
                                            Lawrence D. Berberian,
         Vice President, Investments Retirement Plan Consultant.
                                                                    ____


 Murkowski Verifies He Sold All Natural Resource Stockholdings Before 
                        Introducing Tongass Bill

       Washington.--In response to a request from one of the 
     tabloid TV programs, A Current Affair, Alaska Sen. Frank 
     Murkowski today released proof that as he announced more than 
     a month ago, that he had sold all of his stock in natural 
     resouce firms before introducing forestry-related legislation 
     concerning the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska.
       Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural 
     Resources Committee, July 17 sold all of his stock holdings 
     in five companies that deal with natural resource issues: one 
     energy company, three timber-related companies, (only one 
     having operations in Alaska) and one mining company. The sale 
     came four days before Murkowski introduced the Southeast 
     Alaska Jobs and Community Protection Act and before any 
     substantive action occurred on either opening of the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration/development or 
     before his committee substantively took up debate of mining 
     reform legislation.
       ``I've never been asked before in a cordial fashion whether 
     I sold my stock in all these companies. Since I have now been 
     asked, the answer is yes I did months ago to prevent 
     ridiculous media speculation from interferring with 
     substantive debate over a number of vital national resource 
     policy issues,'' said Murkowski.
       ``Normally I would follow proper Senate procedures and not 
     unveil my stock transactions, until my annual May financial 
     disclosure statement. But given the level of unresearched and 
     incorrect media reports this summer, it probably is better to 
     release this information now,'' said Murkowski, who added 
     that these sales in no way lessen his commitment to invest in 
     Alaska-related firms whenever possible.
       ``My goal still is to invest in companies that provide jobs 
     and make investments in Alaska. That is what I can do as an 
     individual to help Alaska's economy and the creation of jobs 
     which always has been my guiding investment principle,'' said 
     Murkowski.
       Murkowski has responded repeatedly through his press office 
     to a producer from the program A Current Affair giving them 
     the appropriate contacts in Alaska so they can gain factual 
     comments on the Tongass. The Senator announced in Sitka Aug. 
     12 and Ketchikan Aug. 13 that he had disposed of some stock. 
     Today, Murkowski released to the public the same information 
     he gave to the program to confirm that the sales took place 
     before he introduced the Tongass legislation.

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. To make a long story short, Mr. President, I no longer 
hold any resource development-type stocks in my personal portfolio and 
feel that I have acted appropriately with regard to full disclosure on 
my personal assets. I believe that there is no conflict of any kind 
other than the effort to proceed with responsible development in my 
State of Alaska relative to jobs, the economy, and the economic 
contribution Alaska can make as a resource-rich State to our overall 
economy in this Nation.
  I am proud of my personal efforts to abide by the Senate rules and 
the rules of disclosure. Again, I somewhat resent being ambushed on my 
way to work last Tuesday.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thomas). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum 
call be rescinded. I will speak as in morning business for 4 or 5 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________