SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A southwestern Missouri congressman apologized Tuesday to people offended by his online post about the federal government and singer Amy Winehouse, who died this past weekend.
Republican U.S. Rep. Billy Long posted a message to Twitter on Monday that said: "No one could reach(hash)AmyWinehouse before it was too late. Can anyone reach Washington before it's too late? Both addicted - same fate???"
The remark prompted some people to post their own messages to criticize Long's post. The Springfield News-Leader, which reported Long's apology, said the congressman's post had been referenced by several news outlets, including Britain's Daily Mail.
Long said in a statement Tuesday that he was sorry to anyone his post offended.
"Although I do believe spending 42 percent more than we take in is an addiction, I certainly meant no disrespect to Amy, her family, or her fans," Long said. "She was one of the few true artists to come along in a long time. What happened to her was a senseless tragedy and drawing an analogy wasn't meant to minimize the loss of life. If anyone took offense, I sincerely apologize."
Winehouse was found dead Saturday at her home by a member of her security team. The 27-year-old singer had struggled for years with drug and alcohol abuse. Officials said an autopsy had not determined a formal cause of death, and authorities are waiting for toxicology tests that could take two to four weeks. Winehouse's funeral ceremony was Tuesday in London.
Long is serving his first term in Congress in the 7th Congressional District that covers southwestern Missouri. Long campaigned as a political outsider with strong business credentials. During his campaign he adopted the slogan "fed up" and signaled support for a cap on federal spending and a requirement for a balanced budget.