ouse Republicans reversed course Tuesday on a controversial rules change that would have replaced the independent Office of Congressional Ethics with a new office under the oversight of the House Ethics Committee. The rules change had been passed in a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference Monday. According to press reports, the vote was 119-74 for the amendment by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia. It was to be considered by the full House Tuesday, but after it sparked a nationwide...
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With family members looking on, five newly re-elected members of the Arkansas delegation were sworn into office on Tuesday, the first day of the 115th United States Congress. The five Republicans each took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States" and promised to "well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." The four House members were sworn in by Speaker Paul Ryan, who later performed the same ritual for key Ho...
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Three of the four U.S. House members from Arkansas say they opposed rule changes that would have constrained the activities of the Office of Congressional Ethics. They sided with House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who had urged their colleagues to steer clear of the matter. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers and U.S. Rep. French Hill of Little Rock attended Monday night's Republican House conference meeting and were among the 74 lawmakers who voted against rules that...
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Arkansas Congressional Delegation Members were sworn into new terms Tuesday. U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) took the oath of office to begin his second term representing Arkansas in the United States Senate. “I am incredibly grateful for the trust Arkansans have placed in me to continue representing our great state in Washington. I am pleased to continue fighting for common sense solutions that make Washington work for Arkansas families and businesses,” Boozman said. Boozman is the first Repub...
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Members of the all-Republican Arkansas congressional delegation predict Capitol Hill will be a busy place this year, with the Senate reviewing President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks and with both chambers working to enact the new administration's agenda. Congress is to convene today at noon. Once they're in session, all 435 House members will take the oath of office. In the Senate, newly re-elected U.S. Sen. John Boozman and 33 others will also be sworn in. Although Trump won't be sworn in...
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Members of the all-Republican Arkansas congressional delegation predict Capitol Hill will be a busy place this year, with the Senate reviewing President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks and with both chambers working to enact the new administration's agenda. Congress is to convene today at noon. Once they're in session, all 435 House members will take the oath of office. In the Senate, newly re-elected U.S. Sen. John Boozman and 33 others will also be sworn in. To read more, click here.
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A congressman from northeast Arkansas will reintroduce legislation to ease trade restrictions with Cuba, and says he's hopeful that barriers to agricultural sales will be addressed early in 2017. But there's plenty of uncertainty after the Nov. 8 presidential election and the Nov. 25 death of Fidel Castro, the 90-year-old former Cuban president. It's unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump would be willing to support the bill, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from...
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A congressman from northeast Arkansas will reintroduce legislation to ease trade restrictions with Cuba, and says he's hopeful that barriers to agricultural sales will be addressed early in 2017. But there's plenty of uncertainty after the Nov. 8 presidential election and the Nov. 25 death of Fidel Castro, the 90-year-old former Cuban president. To read more, click here.
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Let's hear it for a couple of other congressmen from Arkansas--French Hill of Little Rock and Bruce Westerman from Hot Springs, both of whom made the sensible, responsible and economical decision to stay where they are for now. "Of the 50 offices ... we had to choose from," says Congressman Westerman, "there wasn't any we would give this one up to take. It's in a good location. It's a little larger than some offices. I don't have any reason to move." Our considered editorial opinion: 'Nuff said....
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - An Arkansan who fought in the Vietnam war had the surprise of a lifetime on Thursday. Robert Sangalli, who served in the 101st Airborne Division as a radio operator, was given 7 medals which he earned during his service in the Army. Sangalli was given the Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart. He was awarded the Purple Heart while recovering, but was put back out into the field and never got it back until now. "I'm just glad all veterans are being honored so much m...
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