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Utah Governor Regrets 'I'm Available Jones' Comment to Lobbyists
Source: Associated Press
Governor Regrets 'I'm Available Jones' Comment to Lobbyists
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY — May 16, 2016, 8:06 PM ET
Gov. Gary Herbert said Monday that he's disappointed in himself and his re-election campaign for offering to meet with lobbyists in exchange for campaign donations as he faces a tough battle for the GOP nomination this summer.
"As far as the optics and what's happened, I'm disappointed in myself and how we handled that," Herbert said. "That being said, when you're an average guy like me that has average means, you have to go out and ask people for money."
The Republican governor made the comments at a taxpayer-watchdog event Monday after The Salt Lake Tribune over the weekend published an audio recording of Herbert making the pitch to about two dozen lobbyists at a private social club in Salt Lake City last month.
"However we want to do this — if we need to have multiple meetings or we sit down and talk and you give us a check later or before. Whatever you would like to do," Herbert said, according to the recording. "I'll just say I'm available. I'm Available Jones."
The "Available Jones" comment is a reference to a character who was always available for a price that was featured in the "Li'l Abner" comic strip that ran from the early 1930s to late 1970s.
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By MICHELLE L. PRICE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY — May 16, 2016, 8:06 PM ET
Gov. Gary Herbert said Monday that he's disappointed in himself and his re-election campaign for offering to meet with lobbyists in exchange for campaign donations as he faces a tough battle for the GOP nomination this summer.
"As far as the optics and what's happened, I'm disappointed in myself and how we handled that," Herbert said. "That being said, when you're an average guy like me that has average means, you have to go out and ask people for money."
The Republican governor made the comments at a taxpayer-watchdog event Monday after The Salt Lake Tribune over the weekend published an audio recording of Herbert making the pitch to about two dozen lobbyists at a private social club in Salt Lake City last month.
"However we want to do this — if we need to have multiple meetings or we sit down and talk and you give us a check later or before. Whatever you would like to do," Herbert said, according to the recording. "I'll just say I'm available. I'm Available Jones."
The "Available Jones" comment is a reference to a character who was always available for a price that was featured in the "Li'l Abner" comic strip that ran from the early 1930s to late 1970s.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/governor-regrets-im-jones-comment-lobbyists-39154856
