Boozman chosen Capitol’s nicest
In staff member survey, title shared with Wyoming’s Enzi
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Boozman is one of the two nicest senators on Capitol Hill, according to a survey of staff members that appeared in the October issue of Washingtonian magazine.
Each election year the magazine surveys hundreds of staff members representing both political parties for its “Best and Worst of Congress” list.
U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., was the other nicest senator. The list includes categories like Best Speaker (U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rand Paul, R-Ky.), Funniest (U.S. Sens. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan.) and Most Likely to Be Seen in a TV Cameo (U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.)
Boozman, R-Ark., said he’s not sure whether he’s the nicest senator; he just tries to follow the golden rule of treating others how he wants to be treated.
“I think it’s important to treat everybody with respect,” Boozman said. “You can disagree without being disagreeable, and I really think that’s how you get things done.”
Boozman’s predecessor, U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, also appeared on the 2008 and 2010 lists as one of the nicest senators.
IN ARKANSAS
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., attended the Jonesboro grand opening of Teletech, a consulting and technology company. On Thursday he attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Aquaculture Field Day.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., was scheduled to speak Friday at the Illinois River Watershed Partnership Conference at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville.
On Monday, Womack is scheduled to join House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., on a tour of 3rd District infrastructure projects, including Interstate 49 and the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., met with new leaders of Little Rock Air Force Base on Monday in his Little Rock district office.
On Tuesday, Griffin is scheduled to meet with a deputy U.S. marshal serving in the Eastern District of Arkansas and present him with a U.S. flag that flew over the Capitol on September 24th, 2014, in honor of the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service. On Thursday, he is scheduled to speak with members of the Rotary Club of North Little Rock.
On Wednesday, the National Association of Manufacturers gave U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Griffin its Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence for the 113th Congress.
Boozman was scheduled to attend the Mercy Orthopedic Hospital “First to Know” event Thursday night to unveil its new 24-bed orthopedic hospital in Fort Smith.
Boozman visited United Parcel Service’s Springdale customer center Tuesday to discuss the company’s efforts to hire more than 25,000 veterans over the next five years.
On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Boozman announced a $169,066 grant to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to help Arkansas agricultural producers develop business opportunities. The funding came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant program.
CAMPAIGNS
The closely watched U.S. Senate race is keeping Pryor and Cotton busy.
On Saturday, Cotton was scheduled to participate in the Race for the Cure 5K. According to his staff, he came in 3rd overall in last year’s race.
He was also scheduled to attend a Second Amendment Sportsmen Rally in Monticello, make campaign stops in Rison, Fordyce and Warren and speak at the Drew Country Reagan Day Dinner. On Sunday, he was scheduled to speak at the Hot Springs Village Celebrate America Rally.
Pryor was scheduled to cheer on Race for the Cure 5K participants Saturday, including the members of the Women for Pryor race team.
Last week, Pryor campaigned in Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Russellville and West Memphis. This week he is scheduled to attend campaign rallies with former President Bill Clinton in Conway, Fayetteville, Jonesboro and Rogers.
DISTRICT MEETINGS
Womack is having two constituent meetings, which he calls Coffee with the Congressman. On Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. he will be at the Farmington Public Library at 175 W. Cimarron Place. On Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. he will be at the Gentry Public Library’s McKee Community Room at 105 E. Main St.
Pryor’s staff is scheduled to hold 23 constituent assistance sessions around the state this week. On Monday staff members will be in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. On Tuesday, they will be in Batesville, Jonesboro, Paragould and Searcy.
On Wednesday, they will be in Arkadelphia, Benton, Blytheville, Forrest City, Hope, Malvern, Osceola and West Memphis. On Thursday, they will be in Camden, Conway, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Magnolia, Russellville and Texarkana.
More information about the stops is available on Pryor’s website at http://www. pryor.senate.gov/get-help/mobileor by calling (501) 324-6336.
NATIONAL PARKS
Last week the National Park Service announced nine free admission days in 2015. Two national parks in Arkansas charge entrance fees: Fort Smith National Historic Site, $4; and Pea Ridge National Military Park, $5.
The dates are Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 14-16, “Presidents Day” weekend; April 18-19, National Park Week’s opening weekend; Aug. 25, National Park Service’s 99th birthday; Sept. 26, National Public Lands Day; and Nov. 11, Veterans Day.