WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF

8 schools receive health applause or kudos for health

Eating, exercise programs earn them D.C. recognition

WASHINGTON -- Eight Arkansas schools were among hundreds honored over the weekend by the Clinton Foundation's Alliance for a Healthier Generation at a meeting in Washington.

The recognized Arkansas schools were Bragg Elementary, Faulk Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Maddux Elementary, Richland Elementary, Weaver Elementary and Wonder Elementary, all in the West Memphis School District; and Malvern High School in the Malvern School District.

The schools are recognized for healthy eating and physical activity programs.

Faulk Elementary school nurse Connie Woods and Jackson Elementary school nurse Meredith Perry traveled to Washington to accept the award on behalf of their schools. They met Wednesday with U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Thursday with U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

2016 campaign

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, attended fundraisers in California and North Carolina on Tuesday. On Wednesday, she attended a fundraiser at Jay Z's 40/40 Club in New York City. On Thursday, she attended a substance-abuse forum in the Boston area, and on Friday, she spoke at a grass-roots organizing meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

She was to appear Saturday on Saturday Night Live, and on Monday, she has two events scheduled in New Hampshire.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, campaigned in Iowa on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, he was in South Carolina.

On Thursday, Huckabee's campaign announced that he will run a campaign ad on the Web in Iowa and South Carolina titled "Strip Club."

"Washington is a strip club. The political class dances for the donor class, and the working class gets stuck with the tab," an actor says in the ad.

SENATE FLOOR SPEECH

Nearly every member of the Arkansas congressional delegation voted against a stopgap bill Wednesday to keep the government open, citing concerns about spending and that Congress wasn't following "regular order" by approving the temporary funding measure.

On Thursday, Boozman explained his objections in a speech on the Senate floor, saying that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved all 12 annual funding bills in plenty of time to be considered before the fiscal year ended Wednesday. He blamed Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama for keeping the bills from being considered.

"While this avoids a shutdown, it's far from ideal," Boozman said. "While the American people demand that we get our financial house in order, Washington continues to pass stopgap after stopgap funding bills. Instead of tackling this challenge head-on, these short-term extensions continue current funding levels and prevent us from stopping waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Just like a shutdown, this, too, is no way to govern."

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., also said he voted no because Congress should have passed the appropriation bills.

"The House has passed all 12 appropriations bills through committee, and has sent six to the Senate. We need to uphold our promise to the American people to fund the government through the normal appropriations process, and my vote [Wednesday] reflects that belief," he said in a statement.

DELEGATION VISITS

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., and Boozman were to attend a ceremony in Rogers for St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School's Blue Ribbon award recognition. The school was one of five in Arkansas honored for "overall academic excellence for their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups."

On Thursday, Boozman, a leader of the Senate Air Force Caucus, addressed Air Force officials at the caucus' annual breakfast in Washington.

On Tuesday, Boozman met with members of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, he sat down with Sam Sellers, owner of Home Helpers of Little Rock; Jerry Coats with Integrated Financial of Little Rock; and with Ella Walker-Rolfe and Janet Johnson-Henderson with the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association. On Thursday, Boozman met with Arkansas Education Association President Brenda Robinson, Carol Fleming of Little Rock and David Morris of Russellville.

On Tuesday, Cotton visited with Lawrence Abramson of Blytheville, Jennifer Lynn Clack of Jonesboro, William Coulter of Mountain Home, Robert Harris of Little Rock, Susan Henry of Little Rock, Kara P. Hyatt of Benton, Keisha LaDale Pittman of Rogers and members of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, Cotton met with Michael Bentel and Dorn Wenninger of Bentonville, and Carol Lee and Jana Bays with Save the Children Western Arkansas Head Start.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., hosted a telephone town hall session with nearly 6,000 constituents. He spoke Wednesday on Capitol Hill with representatives of the American Council of Engineering Cos. On Friday, he addressed the 48th annual meeting of the Arkansas Environmental Federation in Hot Springs.

PRESCHOOL FUNDING

Arkansas received a $14.9 million grant from the U.S. Education Department on Friday to continue offering preschool education programs.

Rutledge in D.C.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge participated in a "Rising Stars" panel at the Republican Nation's "Empowering Leaders for the Future" event Friday in Washington.

MOBILE OFFICE

Womack's staff will be available to answer questions at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Alpena City Hall at 208 U.S. 62 West in Alpena.

GOLDEN FLEECE

Hill, who highlights groups and programs that he believes misuse government funds, gave this month's Golden Fleece award to government employee unions. He pointed to a U.S. Office of Personnel Management report that found that the federal government spent $157 million and 3.4 million man-hours in fiscal 2012 on union activities.

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 10/04/2015

Upcoming Events