WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton on Wednesday brushed off a conservative pundit's suggestion that he be part of a third-party bid if Donald Trump is the GOP's 2016 presidential nominee.
"The only thing for which I am running is some 5 or 10K's later this year," the Dardanelle Republican said, while laughing. "I will be supporting the Republican nominee who I believe will be the next president and who will help unwind this disastrous deal with Iran."
On Monday, Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, told CNNMoney in an email that he would back a third-party candidate -- former Vice President Dick Cheney, with Cotton as his vice president -- if Trump is the Republican candidate in 2016.
"I doubt I'd support Donald. I doubt I'd support the Democrat," Kristol said. "I think I'd support getting someone good on the ballot as a third-party candidate."
Kristol, who promoted Cotton's past bids for office, said Cheney-Cotton "would be an excellent independent ticket!"
2016 CANDIDATES
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to appear today on CBS' Face the Nation with John Dickerson.
Politico reports it will be her first appearance on a Sunday morning news program since 2011. The show airs at 9:30 a.m. on KTHV in central Arkansas, on KFSM in Northwest Arkansas and on WREG in Memphis.
On Monday, Clinton is scheduled to attend a grassroots organizing event at 4:45 p.m. at Philander Smith College's Sherman E. Tate Recreation Center at 900 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive in Little Rock.
On the campaign trail last week, Clinton appeared Monday at two Iowa colleges. Also Monday, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry endorsed Clinton's presidential bid.
She was scheduled to campaign in New Hampshire and Maine from Thursday to Saturday, holding a series of events to talk about substance abuse and college affordability before speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention.
She also was scheduled to hold a private reception for black lawmakers Saturday during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual gala in Washington, Politico reported.
Also last week, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was scheduled to speak Friday at the California Republican Party convention in Anaheim.
On Saturday, Huckabee was scheduled to speak in Des Moines at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition 15th annual Family Banquet and Presidential Forum along with several other Republican candidates. He also was scheduled to campaign in three Iowa cities over the weekend.
WATER BILL
Cotton and U.S. Sen. John Boozman co-sponsored a joint resolution of disapproval Friday that would reverse the Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the United States rule. The rule is designed to clarify what water EPA regulates. Farmers and landowners have said they are concerned that it gives the agency too much power.
The resolution, introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and co-sponsored by 46 senators, would nullify the rule. The Congressional Review Act allows either chamber to approve a joint resolution of disapproval with the full force of law to stop a federal agency from implementing a recent rule or regulation. A resolution of disapproval introduced under the Act cannot be filibustered and requires a simple majority in the Senate to pass if acted upon within 60 days.
AT THE CAPITOL
On Tuesday, Boozman met with Arthur Williams of Little Rock. On Wednesday, Boozman visited with Sloane Foundry of Augusta, bankers with the Arkansas Bankers Association, and Gloria Massey and Judy Lewis of Conway Christian School.
On Thursday, Boozman spoke about the Constitution and answered questions from students at Northside High School in Fort Smith via Skype. On Sept. 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. In 2004 Congress approved an amendment recognizing Constitution Day.
He also met in person Thursday with Arkansas Secondary Principal of the Year Roger Reid of Southside High School in Fort Smith; Ashley Knapp of Fayetteville and Aime Franco of Little Rock; Phoebe Bailey of Hope; and Don Heard, director of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences West in Fort Smith.
Cotton visited Wednesday with Nicole Avant of Benton and Lanita White of Little Rock with the Arkansas chapter of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. On Thursday, he met with the Arkansas Bankers Association to discuss regulatory relief for community banks.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Jonesboro, met Thursday with Paul From, CEO of Central Wire Industries in Dumas.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican from Rogers, is scheduled to be in Springdale on Monday to attend a UPS employee recognition ceremony and tour EcoTech Consumer Products. Later he will visit ECO Modern Flats in Fayetteville.
Womack is scheduled to speak to the Southside Rotary Club at noon Tuesday at Emmy's German Restaurant in Fort Smith.
In a speech on the House floor Thursday, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs, urged the Senate to act on the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015. The bill, which he sponsored, passed the House in July, but hasn't moved in the Senate. It addresses how the U.S. Forest Service manages public lands to prevent wildfires.
U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, spoke Monday at the Institute of Internal Auditors' Financial Services Advisory Board fall conference. On Tuesday, he met with the Arkansas Bankers Association and Wednesday with Col. Charles Brown, commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base.
TELETOWN HALL
Boozman is scheduled to host a telephone town hall at 7 p.m. Monday. Arkansans interested in participating can call toll free (888) 400-1986.
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 09/20/2015