WASHINGTON -- Partisan politics could take a brief break Wednesday night when members of Congress join President Barack Obama for a picnic on the South Lawn of the White House.
Spouses and children are invited to the decades-old event, which hasn't been held in two years, according to Roll Call. In 2013, it was canceled because White House officials thought Congress would be busy debating a resolution authorizing military force in Syria, an issue members are expected to debate again this week.
Arkansas' delegation is split on whether to go.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford and his family plan to attend, his chief of staff said. U.S. Sen. John Boozman is taking his wife along, his spokesman said. U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin and his family also plan to go, his chief of staff said.
U.S. Reps. Tom Cotton and Steve Womack and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor are not scheduled to attend, their staffs said Friday.
CAMPAIGNS
Cotton is scheduled to attend a Friday lunchtime fundraiser hosted by the Podesta Group, a bipartisan strategy and public relations firm, Politico reported Wednesday. Political action committees are asked to give $2,500 to host or $1,000 to attend. For individuals it is $1,000 to host or $500 to attend.
According to his campaign, Cotton was scheduled to hold several campaign events Saturday, including a free luncheon at the Crossbow Restaurant in Huntsville and cookouts with campaign volunteers in Harrison and Yellville.
Cotton announced Friday that former Mississippi Gov. and former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour is scheduled to join him at a $250-a-couple fundraiser Sept. 25. The event is scheduled to occur at 5:30 p.m. at The Pratt Place Barn in Fayetteville.
Democratic nominee for governor Mike Ross was scheduled to make campaign stops at a picnic in Little Flock and at Economy Trailer & Feed Inc. in Fort Smith Saturday, according to his campaign.
National Right to Life and its state chapter, Arkansas Right to Life, endorsed Republican nominee for governor Asa Hutchinson Friday, his campaign announced.
ON THE HILL
Womack met Tuesday with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer; on Wednesday with members of the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association and the Arkansas Auto Dealers; and on Thursday with Qatari Ambassador Mohammed Al Kuwari to discuss the Islamic State m ovement and with Centers for Disease Control Director Tom Frieden to get an update on the Ebola outbreak.
Cotton also met with Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association members Wednesday; on Tuesday with John Paul Pendergrass of Farmers Feeding the World; and with Ouachita River Valley Association Executive Director Bill Hobgood and association Vice President John Stringer.
Boozman is scheduled to hold a question-and-answer session on his Facebook page at noon Central Time on Monday. His Facebook page address is http://www.facebook.com/JohnBoozman
On Wednesday he spoke at the 2014 Military Officers Association of America Warrior Family Symposium about the Veterans Affairs health care crisis and the new law.
On Thursday, Boozman met with Arkansas college students interning in Washington: University of Central Arkansas students Brittaney Williams, of Marked Tree; Auburn Trotter, of Washington; and Whitney Stoecker, of Rose Bud; University of Memphis student Briona Jackson, of West Memphis; and Texas Christian University student Margaret Currier, of Little Rock.
On Wednesday, Pryor met with the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association about water needs and the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project.
On Tuesday, Crawford met with members of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association, including Rob Rash of Marion, the Association's executive vice president; Harry Stephens, president of the Cotton Belt Levee District in Helena-West Helena; and Steve Higginbotham, director of the St. Francis Levee District in Marianna.
On Friday, Pryor toured the Custom Aircraft Cabinets, Inc. facility in North Little Rock and the Remington Arms Company, Inc. ammunition plant in Lonoke.
On Tuesday, Griffin met with Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals' Principal of the Year Joel Linn of Conway High School. He also talked with Sarah Eddy, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, about research funding for the National Institutes of Health.
MOBILE OFFICES
Cotton's staff will be available Tuesday to answer veterans' questions at 9:30 a.m. at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 105 U.S. 270 East in Mount Ida; 12:30 p.m. at the Glenwood Country Club, 584 U.S. 70 East in Glenwood; and at 3 p.m. at Pike County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square in Murfreesboro.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact us at (202) 662-7690 or swire@arkansasonline.com.
SundayMonday on 09/14/2014