Cotton stays silent on McCain attacks
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's ongoing attacks on the late U.S. Sen. John McCain drew criticism last week from U.S. Sen. John Boozman, but no response from U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton.
In a written statement, Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, lauded the former prisoner of war and longtime lawmaker from Arizona.
"Senator McCain was a true American hero who served with honor both in uniform and in the U.S. Senate. His sacrifices and accomplishments cannot be diminished. His voice, leadership and passion for serving his nation are greatly missed in the U.S. Senate and will continue to be in the future," Boozman said. "I certainly don't think it is helpful for the President to continue to focus on this while there are important issues we have to address."
Through a spokesman, Cotton, who served with McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to comment on Trump's latest condemnations.
The New York Times reported Thursday that most Republican senators have opted not to publicly comment on Trump's latest denunciations.
While in Congress, McCain worked to help elect Republicans with military experience, including Cotton and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, another Armed Services Committee member.
Last week, Ernst called McCain "a dear friend" and said Trump "needs to stop" attacking him, according to numerous media accounts.
Womack, grandson have bear meet-up
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack held a bear cub last week. So did his grandson Kaden.
With Congress out of session, it was a chance for Womack to join Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials as they conducted a survey of the state's bear dens.
The Republican from Rogers was accompanied by two of the commission's biologists, Allen Cathey and A.J. Riggs, as well as the commission's wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Ballard, his office said.
Black bears, once plentiful in the Natural State, had been nearly wiped out by the late 1920s. Thanks to conservation efforts -- and an influx of bears from the North -- there are now thousands of them in the state.
The bear cub encounter was just Kaden's latest adventure.
In January, he took his first trip to Washington. In addition to watching his grandfather take the oath of office, he also visited the White House.
Hill's offices in LR, D.C. add Arkansans
U.S. Rep. French Hill announced last week that he's hired two new staff assistants.
Anna Reckling of Bryant will work in the congressman's Little Rock office. The Hendrix College graduate worked as an intern for the Little Rock Republican from July through December.
Mitch Whalen, a Little Rock native, will work on Capitol Hill. Whalen, who graduated last year from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, previously served as an intern for another member of the state delegation, Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack.
In a news release, Hill stressed the new staff members' Arkansas roots while welcoming them aboard.
"I am proud to add to my team two young professionals who were born and raised in central Arkansas," he said. "Their experience and understanding of Arkansas's second Congressional district are assets to the constituents we serve. Both Anna and Mitch have demonstrated a deep passion for public service, and I'm excited to have them on my team."
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Washington bureau? It's available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.
A Section on 03/24/2019