WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF

Clinton finesses invitation to sing

To question on karaoke, she says: ‘I love Dickson Street”

WASHINGTON -- Amid hundreds of questions about the economy and the presidential race during a nationwide Facebook question-and-answer session Monday, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sidestepped an invitation to sing in Fayetteville.

Doug Allen, owner of Jose's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, extended the invitation.

"Do you like to karaoke?" he wrote. "I would like to invite you to our karaoke night on Dickson Street in your old town of Fayetteville Arkansas."

Clinton, who lived in the Northwest Arkansas college city while teaching at the University of Arkansas, simply responded, "I love Dickson Street!"

Allen said by phone after the exchange that he hadn't expected a response, but he's hoping she takes him up on his offer and shows up one Wednesday night.

"It'd be epic," he said. "What a great way to get in front of some of these younger people. Can you imagine if she got right down to the student level, did some karaoke songs with them, had some fun with them and just let people get to know her. That would go viral for sure."

ON THE HILL

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., spoke on the Senate floor Friday in honor of Russellville native Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, a U.S. Marine who was shot and killed when a gunman attacked a military facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. Wyatt was buried Friday in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

On Tuesday, Boozman met with Shonitra Elliott and LaTonya Smith, both of Little Rock, who were visiting Washington with a group advocating for school choice. On Wednesday, he sat down with Barbara Baker of Maumelle and Veronica Clark of Little Rock with the American Nurses Association. On Thursday, he visited with business owners Betty Strong of Pine Bluff and Damon Wallace of Bentonville, and with Sydney King of Fort Smith, who is interning with the U.S. Agency for International Development.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., met Tuesday with Spectra Technologies President David Siggers of Camden and with Arkansas National Guard president Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Frisby, vice president Sgt. 1st Class James Howard and Naomi Howard, all of Cabot.

On Thursday, he talked with Nicholas Van Slooten from Bentonville and Steven Lowry from Hot Springs. They are the Arkansas delegates to the American Legion Boys Nation. As a teen, Cotton was a Boys Nation delegate. He also met Thursday with Marsha Baer of Van Buren, Carol Heavin of Mabelvale and Tammy Romines of Bono.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., met Monday with 16 young farmers visiting Washington with Riceland Foods. On Tuesday, he visited Langley Air Force Base in Virginia with several other freshmen lawmakers.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., and his father, Kermit Womack, of Springdale were to attend the Marines Barracks Parade at the invitation of Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. The Barracks Parade takes place each Friday during the summer and includes precision marching and performances by "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band and others.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., met Wednesday with members of the Arkansas National Guard.

2016 campaigning

On Thursday, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee attended an event in Las Vegas. He also spoke Thursday at the American Legislative Exchange Council 42nd annual meeting in San Diego.

On Wednesday, Clinton made stops at fundraisers in Raleigh, N.C., and Fox Chapel, Pa. She gave an economic policy speech Friday in New York City. She was scheduled to campaign in central Iowa over the weekend.

SOFTBALL RIVALRY

On the National Mall on Wednesday evening, the Boozman staff softball team, Booze Your Daddy, beat Cotton's staff team, The Sand Lizards, 12-6.

Both senators attended the game, which took place near the Washington Monument. The gold-painted hogs-head trophy will be displayed in Boozman's office, the senator said.

The game continued the rivalry that began between Boozman's staff and the staff of then-U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor. Boozman's team has won five years in a row.

NATIONAL PARKS

Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce President Jim Fram testified Thursday about the National Park Service leasing bathhouses in Hot Springs National Park to private businesses. He spoke before the House Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Federal Lands. The hearing focused on innovative business practices by the National Park Service.

"As a result of the leases, [the park service] is relieved of the maintenance and utility costs of the seven structures, while allowing private business to develop and preserve these structures at no cost to the taxpayer," he said, according to his written testimony.

PARLIAMENT

Boozman was one of a handful of senators who made up the U.S. side of the British-American Parliamentary Group meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday. The group was formed during World War II to build friendships between the two legislative bodies. They discuss issues like defense, security, economics and energy.

Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact us at (202) 662-7690 or swire@arkansasonline.com.

SundayMonday on 07/26/2015

Upcoming Events