Boozman in hospital; pain in chest prompts surprise heart surgery

U.S. Sen. John Boozman (center) is recovering after unplanned heart surgery.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman (center) is recovering after unplanned heart surgery.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. John Boozman was recovering Tuesday after unplanned heart surgery at a Northwest Arkansas hospital, a staff member said.

The 63-year-old Rogers Republican was taken to Mercy Hospital in Rogers in the early morning after experiencing arm and chest pains, spokesman Patrick Creamer said. He did not know whether the senator was taken by ambulance.

After running several tests, doctors admitted Boozman and performed heart surgery that lasted several hours. By Tuesday afternoon Boozman was in recovery, Creamer said.

He said he could not confirm what the surgery was specifically for or whether the senator was in intensive care.

“He is in the initial stages, and they are closely monitoring him,” Creamer said. “The word is very positive in terms of how he responded to the surgery.”

Creamer said Boozman’s family has been able to see him. Boozman and his wife,Cathy, have three daughters.

Family members referred reporters to the senator’s office for comment.

“They are grateful for the care he received and is continuing to receive,” Creamer said.

Boozman was scheduled to attend several events in north-central Arkansas this week, according to a schedule released by his staff. He had been scheduled to speak Tuesday morning with several regional mayors in Gravette, although staff members said he was never scheduled to be at the opening of the first stretch of the Bella Vista Bypass on Tuesday, as some media initially reported.

Boozman was also scheduled to attend events in Green Forest and Harrison on Tuesday.

There is not yet a timeline for when the senator might be released from the hospital, Creamer said. Congress is in the middle of a two-week break and returns April 28.

Staff members of the U.S. Senate parliamentarian’s office said there is no rule requiring senators to give up their seats or take formal leaves of absence if they have to be away from Washington for an extended period of time.

Some committees will allow senators to vote by proxy without being present, but a senator has to physically be in the chamber to cast a vote when items are before the full body. Senators also have to be present to file legislation.

Boozman is the state’s second Republican U.S. senator since Reconstruction. He defeated U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat, in 2010 to secure the seat.

Boozman was elected to the House in 2001 in a special election to replace Asa Hutchinson in Arkansas’ 3rd District when Hutchinson took a job in former President George W. Bush’s administration. Boozman then beat Democrat Mike Hathorn in the general election.

He was unopposed in 2002 and beat Democrat Jan Judy in 2004, Democrat Woody Anderson in 2006 and Green Party candidate Abel Tomlinson in 2008.

Boozman, an optometrist, previously helped run an eye clinic in Rogers with his brother and served on the Rogers School Board.

Well wishes poured in from across the political spectrum soon after news of the surgery spread.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, “We’re glad to hear that John is doing well and we all look forward to having him back at work. He is a fantastic Senator and a tireless advocate for Arkansas and the people he so proudly represents.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, the Rogers Republican who holds Boozman’s old House seat, said Boozman is receiving great care.

“I expect that he’ll be up and running very soon, doing what he loves to do best, and that’s serving the people of Arkansas. He’s a great guy, terrific friend, and we’re just praying for a very speedy recovery. And I’m sure that’s going to happen,” he said.

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, a Democrat from Little Rock, and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, each sent out news releases saying their thoughts are with Boozman’s family. U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford and Tim Griffin each wished him well on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

Gov. Mike Beebe’s spokesman Matt DeCample said, “The governor and all of us here wish the senator a full and rapid recovery.”

State House Democratic Leader Greg Leding, state Reps. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, and David Meeks, R-Conway, and several other state lawmakers also took to Twitter to urge Boozman a speedy recovery.

Information for this article was contributed by Ryan McGeeney of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Front Section, Pages 1 on 04/23/2014