Boot Berryism

Griffin: Founding Fathers’ Guidance Is Timeless

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:20:00 +0000

Launches digital media blitz to celebrate ‘Founding Fathers Day,’ remind Americans

of what they said about liberty, security and the abuse of power

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) released the following statement in announcing his digital media push in honor of our Founding Fathers in the lead up to Fathers’ Day:

“With Father’s Day around the corner, it got me thinking about the guidance dads provide, and in light of the recent news from Washington – from the NSA’s objectionable collection of phone records to the IRS’s targeting of individuals based on religious and political beliefs – I was reminded of the wisdom of our Founding Fathers. Their words are as relevant today as they were two centuries ago. As Americans, we should celebrate ‘Founding Fathers’ Day’ and never forget them.”

Tags: Rep. Tim Griffin, AR-02, fathers day,

America Deserves Answers

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:09:00 +0000

by RNC:

Tags: RNV, Washington scandals,Americans, Deserve, answers

Griffin Reintroduces the HEAL Act in Honor of Recruiting Station Victims

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Says, ‘It’s the right thing to do,’ Ezeagwula and Long were ‘victims of international terrorism’

Pvt William Long

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) has reintroduced the Honoring Ezeagwula and Long (HEAL) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula and Pvt. William Long were shot because they were serving their country in the armed forces of the United States. Regardless of President Obama’s refusal to admit it, they were victims of international terrorism, targeted because they were soldiers. They are American heroes who deserve the same honor as the military personnel who were wounded or killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. It’s the right thing to do, and my bill will correct this injustice and ensure these men and their families receive the full recognition of a grateful nation.”

In 2007, Abdulhakim Muhammad traveled to Yemen where he admits to training with known members of Al Qaeda and discussed attacks on American military personnel. Muhammad also planned to receive terrorist training in Somalia, and, and when he was arrested with a fake Somali passport at a Yemeni roadside checkpoint, he was in possession of videos and literature from Al Qaeda leaders including Anwar Al-Awlaki. On June 1, 2009, Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula was wounded and Pvt. William Andrew Long was killed when they were shot by Muhammad outside of a military recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas.

On July 25, 2011, Muhammad pled guilty to the charges of capital murder, attempted capital murder, and unlawful discharges of a firearm. He was sentenced to consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole and life in prison on the remaining charges. An additional fifteen years was imposed for use of a firearm in the commission of these felonies.

Last year, the White House threatened to veto a bill if it included language that would have awarded the Purple Heart to Ezeagwula and Long.

Griffin first introduced the HEAL Act in 2011.

Tags: HEAL Act, Honor, Recruiting Station, Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, Pvt. William Long, Victims, Little Rock, Arkansas, Recruiters killed, muslim radical, Representative, Tim Griffin,

Remington Arms Company, Lonoke, Arkansas

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:30:00 +0000

by Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mark Darr: I recently had the privilege of touring Remington Arms Company in Lonoke. I was accompanied by State Senator Jonathan Dismang, State Representative Andy Davis, House of Representatives Chief of Staff Gabe Holmstrom, Lonoke County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Parker, and my Chief of Staff Bruce Campbell. Remington was originally founded in 1816 in upstate New York. Founded in 1969, the Lonoke plant is the main supplier of ammunition for Remington nationwide. They currently employ nearly 1200 employees. In response to the growth in the ammunition market, they are expanding their operations. The $32 million expansion is expected to be fully implemented and operational by summer of 2014.

“We are proud to provide job growth within communities that have supported us for so many years, while meeting the increasing global demand for superior ammunition products,” said Jim Grahlmann, Lonoke Plant Manager. “This expansion reinforces our commitment to deliver the finest quality products for our customers.”

“We continue to invest in all of our manufacturing operations because we are committed to ensuring quality, increasing product availability and improving on-time delivery,” said Kevin Miniard, Chief Operating Officer of Remington. “This significant investment in Lonoke is a testament to that commitment. Our customers can count on Remington to invest in its manufacturing operations in order to ensure that its facilities are state-of-the art and its employees are the best in the industry.”

Growing up in rural Arkansas, I’ve bought my share of ammunition. I, on behalf of many rural Arkansans, would like to thank Remington for providing not only the necessary resources for Arkansas hunters, but protection for our families.

Tags: Arkansas, Lt. Gov., Mark Darr, Remington Arms, Lonoke, Second Amendment

Arkansas Voters: Pryor could have 'stopped' ObamaCare; His Deciding Vote Was 'Irresponsible'

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:01:00 +0000

Alexandria, VA -- Today, Senate Conservatives Action (SCA) launched a new 30-second television commercial, which features several Arkansas voters who express disappointment in U.S. Senator Mark Pryor's vote for ObamaCare and say it's time to change senators.

SCA's new ad ("Change") is the third in a three-part series running in the Little Rock and Ft. Smith media markets, which reach approximately 75% of the electorate. The full, three-week media buy is for 2,000 gross rating points and costs approximately $320,000.

The new ad comes after Senator Pryor made comments defending his vote for the health care law. Pryor called it the "right vote" and said ObamaCare was "good for Arkansas" in an interview on KARK Channel 4's Capitol View despite the fact that 58% of likely Arkansas voters oppose ObamaCare.

Pryor also claimed that voters "are mad at Congress, but they are not mad at me" in a story published this past weekend by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. SCA's new ad suggests otherwise.

ANNOUNCER: Mark Pryor was the deciding vote for ObamaCare.

Instead of listening to us, Pryor says he still supports ObamaCare, and won’t vote to repeal it.

JOANNA CURTIS (Benton): “Pryor voted for ObamaCare.”

GLENN GALLAS (Hot Springs): “He could have stopped ObamaCare.”

JANET CROW (Conway): “Pryor votes like a liberal.”

DR. EARL PEEPLES (Little Rock): “He is a liberal.”

DALE CUSTER (Little Rock): “He says one thing in Arkansas, he does another in Washington.”

CATHERINE JONES (N. Little Rock): “More spending, more debt.”

LIZ EDWARDS (Sherwood): “It’s irresponsible.”

NIC HORTON (Searcy): “Mark Pryor left us.”

DALE CUSTER (Little Rock): “Pryor left us.”

JOANNA CURTIS (Benton): “Arkansas, we can do better.”

ANNOUNCER: Mark Pryor has changed.

Now it’s time to change Senators.

Senate Conservatives Action is responsible for the content of this message.

In addition to "Change", SCA has also sponsored two other TV ads ("Deciding Vote" and "Better") as well as two radio ads informing voters of Senator Pryor's record ("Liberal" and "95 Percent").

Tags: Change, Arkansas Voters, Senator, Mark Pryor, vote, Obamacare

Mark Pryor Tries to Hide From Washington Scandals

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:05:00 +0000

In the midst of scandal, Pryor focuses on grilling, movies and sports

Washington D.C. - The National Republican Senatorial Committee today released a new web video called “Pryor-ities.” The video points to Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor's lackadaisical approach over the of the fallout in the IRS scandal.

“For years, Mark Pryor has helped President Obama expand the reach of government into our daily lives. Whether its the IRS, the DOJ or the NSA scandal, people across the ideological spectrum are angry and believe the government has gone too far - meanwhile Mark Pryor is wasting time talking about grilling and movies," said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen. "Mark Pryor is a liberal when no one is looking and has voted to grow the reach of the federal government throughout his years in the Senate. Pryor can't hide from the truth any longer, Arkansans are watching."

Tags: Senator, Mark Pryor, liberal, Pryor-ities, video

Boozman Statement on Senate Farm Bill Vote

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:59:00 +0000

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today released the following statement after voting in support of the Senate’s bipartisan farm bill.

“Considering that agriculture is Arkansas’s top industry, passage of a farm bill is vital to our state’s economic recovery. Like any other business, Arkansas’s agricultural producers need certainty to be able to make important planting, purchasing and hiring decisions. A five-year farm bill will give our family farmers and ranchers the confidence to move forward with those decisions, and in turn, create jobs and opportunities in our communities.

This is a great example of Democrats and Republicans working together. Under the leadership of Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran, we worked hard to find common ground and ensure that this bipartisan bill established the framework for a fair approach from which we can build on. The Senate bill is a step in the right direction to protecting vulnerable agriculture producers throughout the nation. We will continue to seek improvements in the final product and I’m optimistic that we can find a solution that both chambers of Congress can support.”

Tags: Senator John Boozman, Senate Agriculture Committee, Farm Bill,

A More Accountable Government

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 14:03:00 +0000

by Rep. Rick Crawford, AR-01: Every week I spend in Washington is a week spent trying to find ways that we can make the federal government operate more effectively for the people of the First District. This week was no exception. We took up a bill this week that had to do with the funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. For some time the Department of Veterans Affairs has been under heightened scrutiny for the backlog of claims that veterans have submitted. My office consistently receives cries of frustration from veterans who are tired of waiting for answers. It has been troublesome for America’s veterans who submit their claims for assistance and wait for weeks, months, or years and never receive a response while making do the best they can. In the bill the House passed this week we made sure the Veterans Administration has the resources necessary to address these back logs. Our veterans deserve this and I am happy we were able to pass this on to the Senate for consideration.

Also this week I introduced two pieces of legislation that will strive to make the federal government work better for the people of the First District. The National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act of 2013 and the Sunshine on Government Act both strive to make the federal government a responsible partner with the people of the First District through common sense reforms and agreements.

The National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act of 2013 addresses the uncertainty that has been created by the federal agencies who have juggled the responsibility of these hatcheries back and forth over the last several years. The businesses that have developed over the last several decades and support the ever growing fly fishing and outdoors-oriented tourism of both Mountain Home and Heber Springs need the certainty that my bill provides for the mitigation hatchery program. These communities have done their part and now it is time for Congress to do theirs.

The Sunshine on Government Act is a common sense reform bill that should take no time to pass and implement. The Office of Inspector General (IG) does not currently have a centralized location online for the American public to view published IG reports detailing waste, fraud, and abuse on federal agencies. A key component to having an open and transparent government is making these reports readily available and easily understandable for all who want to access them. My bill does just that, and in light of recent scandals plaguing federal agencies I believe it is past time that we find a way to ensure the American people have access to these reports.

Every week that I am in Washington it is my goal to improve the federal government so it will work better for the people of the First District. In doing so I believe we are bettering the lives of Arkansas families every day.

Tags: Rick Crawford, AR-01, More Accountable Government

Thomas Brewer Declares Himself As An Arkansas 3rd Congressional District Candidate

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:46:00 +0000

by The WCTP team: Hey, tea party friends! You don't want to miss the Washington County Tea Party meeting on Monday night (June 10)! We have some interesting discussion planned as well as a speaker that should be of interest to many tea partiers. This is what he posted on the Washington County TEA Party facebook pageMy name is Thomas Brewer and I am seeking support for the 2014 Republican Primary for US Congress in Arkansas District 3. I love the Constitution and believe that it is exceptionally clear on the limits of government, something that our “representatives” have forgotten. I also believe that adherence to the Constitution demands fiscal conservatism and it has become abundantly clear that, with the $17 Trillion debt, our Congressmen/women have chosen not to follow it, nor do they remember what it means to take an oath to adhere to something. I will vote NO on increased spending, I will vote NO against any infringement upon your natural rights (those of Life, Liberty, and Property), and I will vote NO on taxes. We are all suffering from the same problem, a bloated, wasteful government that lives on our money. I look forward to speaking with you on Monday June 10th and hope that together we can reestablish what our founders fought for.

Thank you for your consideration,
Thomas Brewer"So there you have it. You heard it here first! Bring your questions!

As usual, the meeting is open to the public and will begin at 6:30 pm with a potluck supper at the VFW on 71B in Springdale (across from AQ Chicken). See you there! Bring a friend!

Tags: Washington County, Arkansas, Tea Party, Guest Speaker, Thomas Brewer, candidate, Republican Nomination, 3rd Congressional District, U.S. House

Crawford introduces Mitigation Hatchery Bill

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:13:00 +0000

National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act of 2013 will provide long term and reliable funding for mitigation

Washington, June 6, 2013 - Today, Congressman Rick Crawford introduced legislation to provide a long term and reliable solution for funding mitigation fish hatcheries operations. Crawford’s First Congressional District is home to the Norfork Lake National Mitigation Hatchery in Mountain Home and the Greers Ferry National Mitigation Hatchery in Heber Springs.

“The Norfork and Greers Fairy mitigation hatcheries play a crucial role in the tourism industry of the First District,” said Crawford. “Tens of thousands of sportsmen and women visit our rivers and stream areas every year to enjoy world-class fly fishing. Ensuring that these mitigation hatcheries are taken care of in a responsible manner is critical to these local economies in North central Arkansas.”

Crawford’s bill, H.R. 2261, The National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act of 2013, addresses the uncertainty that has been created by federal agencies who have juggled the responsibility of these hatcheries back and forth over the last several years. The National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act of 2013 will mimic the successful mitigation programs in the Western United States by requiring Water Development Agencies to reimburse for the costs associated with fulfilling commitments the Federal Government made to states for the destructive affects constructing federal water development projects has had on local fisheries.

“The businesses that have developed over the last several decades that support the ever growing fly fishing and outdoors-oriented tourism of both Mountain Home and Heber Springs need the certainty that my bill provides for the mitigation hatchery program. Thousands of jobs and well over 100 million dollars of annual economic impact depend on it. Congress needs to ensure that there is a long term and reliable source of funding for these mitigation hatcheries. These communities have done their part and now it is time for Congress to do theirs.”

H.R. 2261 The National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act of 2013 has two basic elements:

1. A requirement that the Water Development Agencies causing the need for mitigation pay for the mitigation.

2. Requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work with the Water Development Agencies to develop long-term agreements that will satisfy the commitments for mitigation the Water Development Agencies made to the states where Water Development Projects were built.

Tags: Rick Crawford, Mitigation Hatchery Bill, HR 2261, The Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act

First Arkansas Medicaid Inspector General Appointed

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:21:00 +0000

Jay Shue

ANDREW DeMILLO, AP: Gov. Mike Beebe on Thursday appointed a deputy attorney general as the state's first Medicaid inspector general, picking him to oversee a new independent office aimed at investigating waste and fraud complaints in the $5 billion program.

Beebe appointed Jay Shue, who directs the AG's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, to the position created by lawmakers earlier this year. Shue will report directly to Beebe and oversee 33 staffers from the state Department of Human Services that will be reorganized into a new office. . . .

The law creating the IG's office was among several laws aimed at curbing costs in the Medicaid program that lawmakers approved in conjunction with a plan to expand health insurance to 250,000 people using federal Medicaid dollars. The "private option" insurance plan, which still must get federal approval, is being touted as an alternative to expanding Medicaid's enrollment under the federal health care law.

Shue, a former deputy prosecutor, said he'll spend the upcoming weeks planning on how to set up the office before starting July 1. He said he's not sure if the workers will continue working out of the DHS office or move to a new space. . . .

At least nine other states have inspectors general to oversee their Medicaid program.

Under the Arkansas plan, staffers already working in the Department of Human Services to monitor waste and fraud will be reorganized under the Office of Inspector General. In addition to the IG, the measure also calls for the hiring of a legal counsel for the department.

The IG's office would be able to recover or freeze Medicaid funds from providers if they've committed fraud, and will be required to refer suspected fraud or criminal activity to the attorney general's office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The office will also be required to file an annual report detailing its investigation and money recovered.

As lawmakers debated whether to expand Medicaid during this year's session, Republicans said the program also needed to keep costs down in the $5 billion program that serves more than 776,000 people in the state. An audit released in February said that the state has paid more than $1.3 million in Medicaid dollars to ineligible recipients since 2009.

Sen. David Sanders, who sponsored the legislation creating the IG office, said he was pleased with Beebe's pick.

"I think it sends a very strong signal across the state to anyone involved with the Medicaid program that we take seriously waste fraud and neglect and we have an independent entity charged with looking at that," said Sanders, R-Little Rock.

Tags: Arkansas, First, Medicaid Inspector General, Jay Shue

Gov. Sam Brownback To Headline Arkansas GOP Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:18:00 +0000

Little Rock, Ark. – The state Republican Party announced today that Kansas Governor Sam Brownback will headline their second annual Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner on June 28 ^th in Little Rock.
“We are excited and honored to have Gov. Brownback as our guest of honor on June 28 ^th,” said RPA Chairman Doyle Webb. “Sam Brownback knows what it’s like to be a conservative Republican U.S. Senator and a conservative Republican Governor, and that’s important, because we intend to elect one of each in 2014 here in Arkansas.”
The dinner will be held on Friday, June 28, at the State House Convention Center at 7pm in the Wally Allen Ballroom. A private photo opportunity and reception will be held prior to the event at 5:45pm. The next day, Republicans will hold their biennial State Committee Meeting at the Airport Holiday Inn Hotel.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.arkansasgop.org or by calling the State Party headquarters at 501-372-7301.

Tags: 2013 Arkansas Republican Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner, Gov, Sam Brownback, headline speaker, June 28, 2013

Pryor Lashes Out at Arkansas Small Business Owner

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:11:00 +0000

...Has No Credibility" On Impact of ObamaCare
Attention small business owners: Mark Pryor supports you, so long as you don't disagree with his votes - ever. In which case, he'll lash out against you.

Yesterday, Mark Prory aimed fire at North Little Rock business owner Bill Shroyer for speaking out in a TV ad which highlights Pryor's deciding vote for ObamaCare and the devastating impact it will have on Arkansas businesses. In the ad, Shroyer explains“Washington just doesn’t get it. They don’t understand the consequences of their laws, they feel good when they do them, and they’re all catastrophes,” Shroyer said in the ad. “Look around, Senator Pryor, we used to have about 100 people working here. Now we have 25.”

Pryor's defense? "The person that they have on the ad, from my standpoint, doesn’t have any credibility."

No credibility?

"Mark Pryor, who has spent the last 20 years as a politician, is actually arrogant enough to believe that he understands the daily struggles and stresses better than that of Arkansas workers and small business owners," said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen. "Health care is a personal issue that is weighing heavily on the minds of Arkansas workers, businesses and middle-class families. Ensuring that costs are low and they can keep the care that they have if they like it remain their top priorities. ObamaCare wouldn't exist without Mark Pryor in the Senate."

What they're saying:

Shroyer responded Wednesday that Pryor is trying to shift the focus away from his voting record. “I am a small business owner trying to stay alive in a very uncertain future that Sen. Pryor has helped to create. It is not about me, it is about him and his voting record and his deciding vote for ObamaCare,” Shroyer wrote in an email. (Arkansas News, Pryor says latest attack ad ‘hypocritical’, 6/5/13)
Shroyer’s Ecomembrane U.S. manufactures bio-gas domes and holders for waste management plants, sewage facilities and food processing plants, according to a 2011 news report. He turned to that business after sales of Splash Superpools began to fall due to the economic decline in California, its biggest market, according to a 2011 article in the DeWitt Era-Enterprise. Ibid
It is amazing to watch the wheels fall off Sen. Mark Pryor’s re-election campaign before it really even gets started. Ibid
Pryor is unable to dispute anything in the ad, so he is instead taking to statewide media to attack Shroyer. Ibid

Tags: Mark Pryor, lashes out, Arkansas, Small business owner

Mark Pryor flipflops on Amnesty Bill; Blames Bush for the Obama Administrations Fast and Furious

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:50:00 +0000

by Kennith Wallis: U.S. Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas held a "sportsman" townhall at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center. Most of the questions revolved around the gun issue, which included the Fast and Furious Operation. Pro-gun rights groups, anti-gun rights groups and other political organizations have launched campaigns against Mark Pryor for his flip-flopping on issues. Mark Pryor is up for election in 2014. Possible candidates to run against him include United States Representative Tom Cotton for the General Election and Arkansas State Senator Joyce Elliott for the democrat primary.

In this video I respond to a statement made by Mark Pryor claiming that Fast and Furious was an operation started under the Bush Administration and then ask a question about S744, the amnesty bill passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee and is now before the full U.S. Senate. Pryor said that he still needed to read the bill even though I had explained to him that S744 was the 1986 amnesty repackaged. To learn more about stopping S744, join the Remember1986 movement across the nation.

Tags: Mark Prior, Amnesty Bill, Blames Bush, obamacare disasters, Fast and Furious

ICYMI: Arkansas Journalists Call Pryor’s Bluff on Obamacare

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:18:00 +0000

Little Rock. Ark. – Senator Mark Pryor was busy last week trying to spin his unpopular votes to his constituents – this time on Obamacare. Pryor cast the deciding 60 ^th vote to pass Obamacare in 2009, and is now attempting to make the case that the passage of the private option vindicates his vote for Obamacare.
The only problem: nobody’s buying it. This week, two Arkansas journalists have taken Pryor to task for making this nonsensical argument.

On Tuesday, June 4, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist John Brummett wrote the following in an article appropriately titled “The ministry of silly talk”:

“Because he stands for re-election next year…U.S. Senator Mark Pryor is finding it necessary to say silly things.”

“Pryor voted in 2010 for a bill with mandated Medicaid expansion with state penalties and for employer penalties for uninsured employees going into the exchange.”

“And now he is saying that Republican state legislators ratified his vote – gave it a conservative blessing – with their private option three years later.”

“They most certainly did not.”

“What I am not fine with is an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator declining to stand up for what he did, but running to the bosoms of local Republican state legislators.”

The John Brummett column can be viewed in full here (subscription required).
Unfortunately for Pryor, Brummett wasn’t the only journalist who called his bluff. Michael Tilley, writing for The City Wire, also pointed out Pryor’s misleading statements in a column titled “The politics of nonsense”:

“Enough already with folks like our United States Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas saying Obamacare is not so bad because the Republican-controlled legislature in Arkansas voted for a plan to incorporate Obamacare into Arkansas’ healthcare community.”

“That’s disingenuous and the good Senator knows it.”

“The same Pryor who hopes most Arkansans will look the other way at the political nonsense thrown at him from the political extremes shouldn’t also expect us to forgive his nonsense.”

The Michael Tilley column can be viewed in full here (subscription required).

Tags: Arkansas, Journalists, Sen. Mark Pryor, Obamacare

Pryor's vote for Obamacare was a "huge letdown for the state of Arkansas"

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Alexandria, VA -- Senate Conservatives Action (SCA) launched a new 30-second television commercial, which features North Little Rock business owner, Bill Shroyer, who expresses disappointment in U.S. Senator Mark Pryor's vote for Obamacare.

The ad follows Senator Pryor's comments this past weekend where he defended his vote for the health care law. Pryor called it the "right vote" and said Obamacare was "good for Arkansas" in a Sunday interview on KARK Channel 4's Capitol View. However, a recent Senate Conservatives Fund poll showed that 58% of likely voters in Arkansas oppose Obamacare.

SCA's new ad, Deciding Vote, is the second in a series of three television ads that will run in the Little Rock and Ft. Smith media markets, reaching approximately 75% of the electorate. BILL SHROYER: When Senator Pryor was the deciding vote for ObamaCare,

It was a huge letdown for the state of Arkansas. And people haven’t forgotten that.

Washington just doesn’t get it.

They don’t understand the consequences of their laws, they feel good when they do them, and they’re all catastrophes.

Look around, Senator Pryor, we used to have about 100 people working here. Now we have 25.

The policies that you’re creating in Washington are killing these companies.

ANNOUNCER: Senate Conservatives Action is responsible for the content of this message.

In addition to the "Deciding Vote" ad, SCA has also sponsored another TV ad "Better" and first major independent expenditure that expressly calls for the defeat of Mark Pryor. SCA sponsored two radio ads "95 Percent" and "Liberal earlier this year, which informed voters of Pryor's liberal record on fiscal and social issues.

Tags: Mark Pryor, Obamacare vote,

Griffin: Asking ‘Americans about Their Prayers’ Is Wrong . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:47:00 +0000

. . . Says, ‘we need fundamental tax reform that protects taxpayers and helps America compete and win’

(click here to watch video from today’s hearing)

WASHINGTON - Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after today’s hearing on the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) targeting of conservative groups:

“What we’re seeing is a distant, ever-growing and almost unlimited federal government that in many instances means well but is all too often unresponsive. Some have argued the IRS’ mistakes resulted from a lack of training. Does the IRS really need training to know it’s wrong to ask Americans about their prayers? We don’t need more training – we need fundamental tax reform that protects taxpayers and helps America compete and win.”

Tags: Rep. Tim Griffin, Americans, prayers, IRS

America's Pac-Man Problem: How autopilot spending is eating up the rest of the federal budget

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:45:00 +0000

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, after releasing a new video – America’s Pac-Man Problem:
“A large part of my job is listening. Just about every day, I hear from Arkansans who tell me how important a federal program is for their family. These aren’t Wall Street bankers or high-paid lobbyists – they’re folks like you and me – people who care about their communities and the ones they love. Often, I have to tell them about America’s Pac-Man problem: autopilot spending on things like health care and retirement programs is crowding out the country’s ability to pay for things like transportation, medical research, education and health care for our veterans. My newest video explains the problem and House Republicans’ efforts to reverse it.”
There are two types of federal spending: the first is mandatory spending (or autopilot spending), which describes the amount of money that is automatically spent each year on things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the interest on the debt. Mathematical formulas determine how much money is spent on these programs each year. This spending is automatic and occurs without annual Congressional approval. The second is discretionary spending, which is controlled by Congress and most federal programs are funded through annual appropriation bills passed by Congress.

In 1970, autopilot spending accounted for only 42 percent of all federal spending. In 2010, it accounted for 62 percent. Less than three decades from now, it’s going to account for over three-quarters of all federal spending.

Tags: Tim Griffin, federal spending, America's Pac-Man, autopilot spending

Pryor: ObamaCare was the "Right Vote"

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:22:00 +0000

As news stories and polls continue to highlight the clear majority of families, workers and employers opposed to ObamaCare, Democrat Mark Pryor remains shockingly out of touch, claiming his support for the costly and unpopular overhaul was the "right vote."

Pryor is so desperate that he is now trying in vain to compare his staunch support of ObamaCare to the recent action taken up in the Arkansas state Legislature.

No one is buying Pryor's attempt to fool Arkansas voters.

The Southwest Times Record notes, "What the Legislature approved was an alternative to the health care expansion originally proposed by the federal health care law. Instead of adding Arkansans earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level to the state Medicaid rolls, as the law proposed, lawmakers approved using federal Medicaid dollars to buy private insurance for that population — estimated at 250,000 people."

Rep. John Burris, R-Harrison said to claim Republican state legislators have “joined” Pryor is “a huge stretch on his part.”

Burris added “[Pryor] voted to add 250,000 Arkansans to a failing government system, and all he did was vote for legislation that put in place a lot of the harmful policies that I believe the private option helped to negate."

Health care is a deeply personal issue for most families and women; and ensuring that costs are low and they can keep the care that they have if they like it remain their top priorities. Mark Pryor cannot deny or avoid ownership of the costly support for the premium increases, the individual mandate, the $1 trillion in new taxes, the $716 billion in Medicare cuts and general confusion that implementation of the law will cause Arkansas families and businesses.

"No matter how hard he tries to fool voters, Mark Pryor can't run from the fact that ObamaCare never would have become law if a Republican held his Senate seat," said Brook Hougesen, a spokeswoman for the NRSC.

Tags: Senator, Mark Pryor, Obamacare

Arkansas GOP Response to Pryor’s First Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:37:00 +0000

Little Rock. Ark. – The Republican Party of Arkansas is hitting back at Senator Mark Pryor one day after he released his first campaign ad of the 2014 election cycle.

The ad depicts Pryor attempting to defend his vote on the Manchin-Toomey proposal he cast in April. Pryor says in the ad that “no one from New York or Washington tells me what to do.” But Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb pointed out that Pryor has stood firmly in the past with gun control advocates:
“Mark Pryor was doing the bidding of New York and DC when he voted for the so-called “assault weapons” ban in 2004,” said Webb. “But now that he needs the votes of Arkansans to go back to Washington, he changes his tune dramatically. That’s an election-year makeover that most voters will see right through.”Earlier this year, the Republican Party of Arkansas released a web video entitled “Mark Pryor: Liberal When No One’s Looking” that highlights Pryor’s past stances in favor of gun control measures.

Tags: Arkansas GOP, RPA, Mark Prior, ad

Richard Womack: No Pie for Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Thu, 30 May 2013 23:09:00 +0000

You know that "gut feeling" you had that "corruption" was swirling around the last legislative session in Little Rock; well .... At least one local hospital celebrated after the passage of Arkansas Obamacare. Odd since the sword eventually cuts both ways and they and others in the medical field may not be celebrating in the future. Nic Horton broke the following story which justifies your "gut feeling."

by Nic Horton, The Arkansas Project: There’s been a lot of gossip swirling around the vote to expand Medicaid in Arkansas. For example, how did proponents of expansion pick up 8 votes from Monday (when the bill first failed) to Tuesday when it passed? There’s been a lot of talk about bribery or extortion — Rep. Nate Bell even went to the House floor and spoke of “threats” that had been leveled against House members. Rep. Bruce Westerman, in a fiery speech, asked members if their votes were worth “30 pieces of silver?” Leaders in the legislature then took to the airwaves in order to deny the existence of threats or bribes. So what’s the truth of the matter? All of these legislators cannot be correct.

One rumor that has been swirling for a few weeks involves Rep. Richard Womack and a supposed payoff that was offered to him in exchange for a vote for the “private” option Medicaid expansion. I spoke to Rep. Womack two weeks ago and asked him about it: at that time, he was not prepared to speak about this issue on the record. However, today, after the Arkansas Times floated the story, I contacted Womack again and suggested it was time to make a public statement. Here’s what he told me:

A lobbyist asked me if I would consider changing my vote [on the private option] for $20,000-$30,000 in my campaign account, as soon as they could put it in there legally, and two elections unopposed.

Womack said he did not know the name of the lobbyist and he had had no contact with them previous to this conversation. Womack said he told the lobbyist that he couldn’t stop someone from running against him, but the lobbyist told him “we can see that it’s not a good opponent and that he’s not well funded.” The freshman legislator from Arkadelphia said this put him solidly against the “private” option:

That’s what solidified me as a no. I wanted to get on board with that private option. I had questions that they would not answer. The math seemed incredibly fuzzy, but I was making an effort to gather all the information and do what was best. But when that happened, I absolutely was stuck in the sand on ‘no.’ I just thought, if they’re having to do that stuff to get it done then there’s something wrong here.

Womack added that he was unclear if this was “business as usual” at the Capitol, but said he has noticed a trend in who lobbyists target:

I’ve kinda gathered…they try with more of the freshman and see who they can get. I’m not a politician by any means. I’m just a guy that wanted to help out so all this is new to me. I’m learning every day.

I realize it can be embarrassing or humiliating when you’re asked to participate in a crime. An attempt to ignore criminal solicitation, and get on with your own life, is understandable; it’s my guess that this explains Womack’s hesitance to come forward with this story. But I hope that he has already reported, or is going to report, this crime to the authorities.

Tags: Richard Womack, bribes, obmacare votes, Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas Project

Arkansans Oppose Mark Pryor In New TV Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:25:00 +0000

"Better" - TV:30 - Watch Here

DALE CUSTER (Little Rock): “These politicians in Washington…they just don’t get it.”

NIC HORTON (Searcy): “Mark Pryor just really doesn’t get it.”

JANET CROW (Conway): “Pryor votes like a liberal.”

DR. EARL PEEPLES (Little Rock): “He is a liberal.”

NIC HORTON (Searcy): “He voted for the bailout, voted for the stimulus.”

VALERIE EMMONS (Little Rock): “He voted for ObamaCare.”

MARILYN ANGLIN (N. Little Rock): “We don’t want ObamaCare.”

DR. DAVID GILLIAM (Little Rock): “He voted with Obama 95% of the time.”

DAVID CROW (Conway): “95%”

CATHERINE JONES (N. Little Rock): “More spending, more debt.”

DALE CUSTER (Little Rock): “Senator Pryor’s changed somehow when he went to Washington.”

BILL SHROYER (N. Little Rock): “I’ll take Arkansas values over Washington values, any day.”

NIC HORTON (Searcy): “Mark Pryor left us.”

CATHERINE JONES (N. Little Rock): “Pryor left us.”

GLENN GALLAS (Hot Springs): “Arkansas deserves better.”

ANNOUNCER: “Senate Conservatives Action is responsible for the content of this message.”

This is SCA's first major independent expenditure that expressly calls for the defeat of Mark Pryor. SCA sponsored two radio ads ("95 Percent" and "Liberal") earlier this year, which informed voters of Pryor's liberal record on fiscal and social issues.

Tags: Mark Pryor, Arkansas, TV ad, opppose Mark Pryor, better

Griffin: ‘Remember and Honor Those Who Have Given Their Lives for Our Freedom’

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Mon, 27 May 2013 14:45:00 +0000

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement in honor of Memorial Day:
“On this Memorial Day, take time to remember and honor those who have given their lives for our freedom in defense of this Nation. And in so doing we must always keep our solemn commitment to care for the loved ones they left behind.”

Tags: Memorial Day, Tim Griffin

A Day of Remembrance

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Sat, 25 May 2013 19:17:00 +0000

Members of the 753rd Ordinance Company
out of Camp Dawson, WV in Kuwait

by U.S. Rick Crawford (AR-01): Memorial Day is a special time of reflection, as I’m sure it is for millions of families across America. I had the privilege of growing up in a military family. My dad spent his entire military career in the Air Force where he served one tour in Vietnam amongst other assignments that took our family to all corners of the United States as well as overseas. While my dad’s service in the Air Force makes me proud of what he did for our country, I believe it was the smaller lessons he taught me that are reflective of what Memorial Day should represent in the minds of every American family.

As was the custom we lived in on-base housing provided by the Air Force when my dad was on assignment. It was common for each home to house countless families every few years as service members rotated in and out of bases. While moving out of one house we had been living in, I distinctly remember my dad making the point that we had to leave the house in better condition than when we first moved in. I initially did not understand what he meant.

But as we cleaned the house before we departed for my dad’s next assignment I came to fully appreciate his lesson. Though we had lived there only temporarily, my dad wanted me to understand the importance of taking pride in and responsibility for what we had been given. This was also his approach in his service to our nation.

Military life is every bit as challenging for a service member’s spouse and family, something I experienced myself firsthand. I am eternally grateful for the service provided by both my father and my mother while he was in the Air Force. Without my mother’s help in raising my brothers and me, I would not be where I am today. I believe their example of leaving what we have been given in better condition than how we found it is something we should all reflect on this Memorial Day. Our nation is a gift from God, and we should all strive to leave it in better condition in every way possible than how we found it. For Memorial Day, please thank a service member for their work and for doing all they can to make our nation a better place. And on this Memorial Day a special thanks to those families who lost a loved one in service to our country. This day is for them.

Tags: Memorial Day, Day of Remembrance, Rep. Rick Crawford

Pryor Responds Concerns About President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Budget Proposal

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Smith) — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:30:00 +0000

The following is by U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and is in response to my comments to him regarding the President's budget and my concerns over the impact of sequestration and the budgets impact on the military, veterans and their families. As with previous responses from Senators and Representatives, the response is published without editorial comment.
-------------------------

May 24, 2013

Dear Dr. Smith,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 budget proposal. I appreciate hearing from you.

The President released his FY 2014 budget proposal on April 10, 2013. I continue to examine this budget proposal, but I am concerned that this budget fails to strike the right balance between cutting our spending and setting up a path for future job creation and economic growth.

The President's budget proposal is simply the Administration's plan for allocating funds for a particular fiscal year; it is not a law or a binding document. The Constitutional responsibility for allocating money lies with the Congress, not with the Administration. I will use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to find a balanced approach that will benefit our economy, seniors, and middle class families.

Please know that I understand your concerns regarding proposed changes in military pay and healthcare. I am committed to a strong national defense, which requires the very best in military training, equipment, and technology to ensure our service men and women have the resources they need to accomplish their missions. I am also committed to honoring the sacrifices that our service members, veterans, and their families have made in order to protect our country. I will be sure to keep your specific comments in mind as I continue to do my part to ensure that they have resources, healthcare and benefits they deserve.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I value your input. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office regarding this or any other matter of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Mark Pryor
United States Senate

Tags: Mark Pryor, US Senator, President's budget, military, veterans, families, sequestration,