Arkansan at rally on health centers
WASHINGTON — An Arkansas community health advocate spoke at a rally on Capitol Hill last week, urging congressional support for community health centers.
Brigitte McDonald, a Corning resident and CEO of 1st Choice Healthcare, was joined by other advocates from across the country.
Congress got the message. Lawmakers included funding for community health centers in their two-year budget agreement, which was signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump.
McDonald met with members of the Arkansas congressional delegation earlier in the week and described them as “very supportive.”
Failure of Congress to approve ongoing funding for the centers had left the health care providers and their patients in limbo.
“Since we’ve had the four continuing resolutions, most of the health centers in Arkansas have either implemented a hiring freeze or [are] looking at that, losing staff because of the uncertainty. It’s definitely hard to recruit staff knowing that the funding cliff is there,” she said.
Republican U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro and French Hill of Little Rock had already signed a Feb. 2 letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., highlighting the importance of providing “sustainable and reliable funding” for the centers.
Cotton views war
movie with Trump
President Donald Trump watched a war movie Tuesday and invited U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., to join him for the screening.
The picture, 12 Strong, opened Jan. 19, finishing second at the box office its debut weekend. The film had raked in $39.2 million as of Thursday.
The film, which has received mixed reviews, is based on a book titled Horse Soldiers, about mounted U.S. servicemen who battled the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The White House has a 42-seat movie theater in the East Wing. It’s been there since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.
Bloomberg News reported that guests for the screening included former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Cotton, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, enjoyed the movie, his spokesman said.
Hill’s ‘Solid’ GOP
seat now ‘Likely’
The Cook Political Report has its eye on Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
The independent, nonpartisan newsletter ranks House and Senate races, categorizing most as either “Solid” Republican or “Solid” Democrat. Others are classified as either “Likely” or “Lean” or “Toss Up.”
For months, all four Arkansas U.S. House seats were on the “Solid Republican” list for the 2018 election cycle.
Last week, Cook switched the central Arkansas seat from “Solid” to “Likely” Republican.
Those in the “Likely” column “are not considered competitive at this point, but have the potential to become engaged,” the publication’s website states.
The classification changed after state Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, announced that he would challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock.
Tucker is one of three Democrats hoping to face Hill in the fall. The primary is May 22.
Arkansas groups
take in Capitol Hill
A number of Arkansas groups visited the nation’s capital last week.
A contingent from the Conway Chamber of Commerce traveled to Capitol Hill. Members of the Arkansas School Boards Association also stopped by.
The National School Boards Association was having its 2018 Advocacy Institute, which teaches school board members how to “engage policy makers and impact policymaking.” U.S. Sen. John Boozman, a Republican from Rogers and former school board member, addressed the national gathering.
Several Arkansans, including Cross Church Northwest Arkansas Pastor Ronnie Floyd, were on hand for the National Prayer Breakfast and related gatherings. Boozman, who served as co-chairman of last year’s breakfast, said this year’s event was “very, very nice.”
Westerman to hold constituent events
U.S. Rep. Bruce Wester-man has scheduled two “Coffee with Your Congressman” events in his district.
The first takes place at 8 a.m. Monday at the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, 659 Ouachita Ave., in Hot Springs.
The second is set for 8 a.m. Feb. 20 at Arkadelphia Town Hall, 700 Clay St., Arkadelphia.
The Clark County event was originally scheduled to take place last week but had to be rescheduled while Congress worked to pass a budget agreement and avoid a lengthy government shutdown.
The Republican from Hot Springs lets his constituents know if there’s a last-minute cancellation, posting updates on his webpage: https://westerman.house.gov/about/events.
The second-term congressman holds these gatherings periodically.
In an interview at his Capitol Hill office last week, Westerman said he appreciates hearing from people.
“You know, I spend so much time up here [in Washington]. When I’m back home, it’s good to get out and interact with folks,” he added.
Planning to visit the nation’s capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansas online.com. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Washington bureau? It’s available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.