Three of the six members of Arkansas' congressional delegation plan to file for re-election Monday in Little Rock, the Republican Party of Arkansas has announced. U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs and U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro are to appear at the state Capitol that morning.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared Thursday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, telling the ABC talk-show host that she's not sure what Bill Clinton's title will be if she wins the White House in 2016. "Part of what we'll have to figure out is what do you call the male spouse of a female president," she said. "The first dude, first mate, first gentleman, I'm just not sure about it."
While in California, the former secretary of state also raised money for her campaign. Singer Christina Aguilera on Wednesday held one of the events, while actor-director Rob Reiner hosted another. Variety reported that a number of Hollywood stars showed up to back the candidate. Clinton was scheduled to campaign this weekend in South Carolina.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee dropped off a $25,000 check Monday at the state Capitol. That's the fee for Republican presidential candidates to claim a spot on the March 1 primary ballot in Arkansas.
On Thursday, he traveled to Alabama, a state he carried during his 2008 presidential bid, and registered for that state's primary. Huckabee's campaign schedule last week listed multiple stops in Iowa, including pheasant hunting on Sunday and a speech Friday at the National Religious Liberties Conference in Des Moines. Huckabee also campaigned in South Carolina.
BOOZMAN
Boozman held a telephone town-hall meeting Monday with constituents. On Tuesday, he was named a "Champion of Healthcare Innovation" by the Healthcare Leadership Council. Also Tuesday, he met with Gen. Robert Neller, the new commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and with Dan Crow of Ozark and Bob Fausti, who works in Royal to discuss the Forest Service Job Corps program in Arkansas.
On Wednesday, the senator visited with Michael Missal, the Veterans Affairs inspector general nominee. The post has been empty for nearly two years, Boozman said. He also gave a floor speech Wednesday reiterating his opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's new Waters of the United States regulation.
COTTON
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton appeared Thursday on CNN with Wolf Blitzer to discuss the crash of a Russian airliner in Egypt. On Wednesday, Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, talked with Experian's Barbara Gould of Van Buren about the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act. On Thursday, he discussed the Historic Preservation Fund and the historic rehabilitation tax credits with Ellie Isaacs of Hot Springs, Brad Jordan of Benton and Patricia Blick of Little Rock.
HILL
U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, met Thursday with people affiliated with the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. On Wednesday, he visited with Brandy Cox, associate vice chancellor for alumni and executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association.
WESTERMAN
Westerman is to hold several hour-long "mobile offices" Monday. Staff members can assist people with "veterans benefits, Medicare, Social Security and other services involving the federal government," Westerman announced.
The first is set for 8 a.m. in Malvern City Hall, at 305 Locust St. Others are at: 10 a.m. in the Dallas County Courthouse, at 206 W. Third St., in Fordyce; 11:30 a.m. in the Cleveland County Courthouse, at 20 Magnolia St., in Rison; and at 1:30 p.m. in the Grant County Courthouse, at 101 W. Center St., in Sheridan.
Westerman is holding a "Coffee with Your Congressman" event from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Montgomery County Annex Building, at 117 Ray Drive, in Mount Ida. He'll attend the Hot Springs Village Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday in Woodland Auditorium, at 1101 DeSoto Blvd., in Hot Springs Village. He'll speak later that day during a Veterans Day Assembly at Murfreesboro High School.
WOMACK
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican from Rogers, is to spend this week in his district. His schedule includes a "Coffee with the Congressman" event in the Van Buren Senior Citizens Center, at 18 Lafayette St., in Van Buren from 8:30-10 a.m.
Womack's staff will have a "mobile office stop" Tuesday in the Betty Wilkinson Senior Activity Center, at 125 W. Center St., in Greenwood from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Constituents with questions or concerns are invited.
CRAWFORD
Crawford announced that he had successfully added an amendment to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act that will affect his Arkansas district. The amendment would exempt agricultural vehicles from certain restrictions if a section of U.S. 63 is designated as an interstate highway. The act passed in the House last week.
U.S. 63 passes through several of the communities that Crawford represents in northeast Arkansas. Without the exemption, some agriculture vehicles would be prohibited from using certain bridges along the I-555 corridor.
Crawford said the trucks would face a 90-mile detour if they were unable to cross the St. Francis Floodway bridge near Marked Tree.
Crawford helped organize an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Caucus event last week called "EOD Day on the Hill." Active-duty members of all four military branches participated in the annual event, which highlighted the hazardous job and the people who do it. Crawford, who co-chairs the caucus, was an Army explosive ordnance disposal technician.
This week, Crawford is returning to his district. He's scheduled to give a Veterans Day speech followed by lunch in Mountain View.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com.
SundayMonday on 11/08/2015