WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF

1 neutral on big question

Super Bowl picks delegation’s dividing line

WASHINGTON -- Arkansas' delegation was split last week on who would win tonight's Super Bowl.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman said he plans to cheer for the Seattle Seahawks because his daughter is a fan, but he thinks the New England Patriots will likely win.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford said he wants Seattle to win because of allegations that the Patriots used underinflated footballs during the title game against the Indianapolis Colts.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack said early in the week that he hadn't decided who would win. He said Seattle is a strong team, especially because of running back Marshawn Lynch, but New England's quarterback is also impressive.

"It's hard to bet against Tom Brady, but maybe, if they've got enough air in the footballs, he'll be handicapped a little bit," he said.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, the only member of the delegation to pick last year's winner, said he thinks the Patriots will win.

Cotton said he developed an affinity for the team while attending Harvard during the Patriots' last two trips to the Super Bowl; the college is in Cambridge, Mass., the team plays in Foxborough.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman said he isn't rooting for a particular team. He said while both teams are good, Seattle might have an edge.

"I just hope it's a good game. These are two good teams. So many of these games don't live up to the hype, and I think this is going to be a good ballgame," Boozman said.

SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, will serve as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management, committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., announced Wednesday.

The subcommittee has jurisdiction over production of agricultural crops, commodities and products; farm and ranch income protection and assistance, including safety-net programs and farm credit; commodity price support programs; insurance and risk protection; freshwater food production; agricultural trade; foreign market development; and futures, options and derivatives.

ON THE HILL

Boozman submitted a tribute Tuesday to the life of Rogers Police Chief James Allen in the Congressional Record, the official proceedings of Congress. On Thursday, Boozman spoke on the Senate floor about the retirement of longtime veterans advocate retired Lt. Col Steve Gray who served on Boozman's staff since 2001.

On Tuesday, Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, met with Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development representatives Matt McClure and Dustin Parsons, and with National Federation for the Blind of Arkansas representatives.

On Wednesday, Hill and Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, met with Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas representatives Kirkley Thomas and Duane Highley.

Hill and Cotton each met Tuesday with representatives of the Arkansas Bankers Association as well as with the director of the National Association of School Nurses Arkansas, Kathey Haynie, and with Deltic Timber CEO Ray Dillion. They also discussed children's health care with Arkansas Children's Hospital CEO Marcella Doderer and its director of government relations, Rosi Smith.

Cotton also met Tuesday with Ginger Allinson, Rodney Farley, Iris Fehr, and Betty Baudier from the Arkansas Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. Wednesday, he and Boozman met with officials from the White River Irrigation District in Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Irrigation District. Also Wednesday, Cotton met with John Brown University President Chip Pollard about the Higher Education Act.

Womack, a Republican from Rogers, met Tuesday with the Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Wednesday, he met with the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and with Save the Children-Arkansas Head Start. Thursday evening he was the keynote speaker at the Russellville Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs, was scheduled to attend the Hot Springs Chocolate Festival today. He met Tuesday with representatives of the National Federation for the Blind of Arkansas.

MORNING SHOW

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is scheduled to appear today on CNN's State of the Union with host Dana Bash.

This is the third week in a row that Huckabee has appeared on a Sunday morning news show. The former Fox News personality is promoting his most recent book and contemplating a presidential run.

The show is broadcast at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. CST.

FCC STAFF member

Little Rock native Jennifer Thompson has joined the staff of Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as a special adviser and confidential assistant.

Thompson previously worked as a press assistant in former U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor's office. She has a bachelor's degree in social studies from Harvard University.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Cotton is seeking college students for unpaid summer internships in his Washington office and state offices in Little Rock, Jonesboro and Springdale. Internships will be offered May 26 through June 26 and June 29 through July 31. Students may be able to receive academic credit. Applicants can send a resume and cover letter to internships@cotton.senate.gov by March 13.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Jonesboro, is holding a Congressional Service Academy information session at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 on the fourth floor of Jonesboro's Region's Bank Building, 2400 East Highland Drive.

Attendees should RSVP to Sherrie Mitchell at (870) 203-0540 or Sherrie.Mitchell@ mail.house.gov

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 02/01/2015

Upcoming Events