Bentsen Calls Club ‘Doozy’ of a Mistake

Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), conceding he made a “doozy” of a mistake, announced today that he will disband his week-old breakfast club of lobbyists who agreed to pay $10,000 apiece to break bread with him once a month.

Bentsen, the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a prepared statement, “I’m not known to make many mistakes but when I do it’s a doozy, and in forming that breakfast club I really blew it.

“I didn’t anticipate the perception of it,” Bentsen added. “The last thing I want is anything that would reflect on my integrity.”

Bentsen flew home to Texas Thursday night. The statement was released by his staff today.

The senator’s statement said the club, which was called the “Chairman’s Council,” was being disbanded today, and the money collected from an estimated 40 lobbyists will be returned.