At $10,000 Each, Bentsen Backers Can Join Senator’s Breakfast Club

Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has sent letters to dozens of lobbyists and other potential supporters, offering to meet with them for monthly strategy sessions if they contribute $10,000 each to his campaign fund.

The Texas Democrat’s letter is an invitation to join the Chairman’s Council, a support group for his 1988 reelection campaign.

“I will be relying on the members of the Chairman’s Council for advice, assistance and early financial support crucial to a successful campaign, and would very much like to count you among their limited number,” Bentsen said in the letter, dated Jan. 15.

A Bentsen aide, Jack DeVore, said that each breakfast meeting will be limited to 40 people, and, if a greater number donate the required $10,000 to the senator’s reelection fund, Bentsen will give more breakfasts.

He said the breakfast concept is part of Bentsen’s early preparations for a campaign in which he expects to face a “well-financed, strong Republican opponent.” DeVore said the senator did not yet know who that challenger might be.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that at least 40 of 200 recipients of the letter have signed up for the breakfasts. Each is required to put up $5,000 now and $5,000 more by June 1.

Aides to Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Ore.), who was Finance Committee chairman in the last Congress, said Packwood developed a similar breakfast council of campaign supporters, but that the tab was $5,000 each.