Food-stamps data
a topic at caucus
Arkansans traveled to Washington, D.C., for last week's Economic Equality Caucus.
Patty Barker of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Tracey Barnett, a professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, participated in a session titled, "Hunger and Nutrition, Rural Community and Economic Development & USDA Related Issues."
Barnett highlighted a survey by students at the UALR School of Social Work that provided county-by-county information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.
Others who spoke Thursday morning included U.S. Sen. John Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, and U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock.
Congress is working to craft a new farm bill, which includes billions of dollars for food stamps and other programs aimed at combating hunger.
"We hope to see a continuation of these programs that we know work and try to limit the cuts to those programs that are an important safety net for families struggling with hunger across the state," Barker said.
Boozman, who serves as co-chairman of the Senate Hunger Caucus, "understands the work we do at the alliance," Barker said. "He's a great partner."
Barnett said her students' research highlights the need for ongoing funding.
"Arkansans really rely on SNAP. It's a beneficial program for a lot of people. People are not abusing the system. People are actually using the system to help them at certain times in their lives, and then that's ultimately going to lead to their own self-sufficiency," she said.
LR native Enderlin
wins Georgia race
WASHINGTON -- Little Rock native Chuck Enderlin is the Democratic nominee in Georgia's 3rd Congressional District.
The 37-year-old Delta Airlines pilot defeated a local teacher, Rusty Oliver, in Tuesday's primaries.
Enderlin, who captured 59.9 percent of the vote, will face Republican U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson in the Nov. 6 general election.
The district, south and southwest of Atlanta, is largely rural and heavily Republican.
Cynthia Bennett, chairman of the Coweta County Democratic Party, says Enderlin earned the victory.
"Chuck pulled together a strong team of volunteers and had a well-run campaign," she wrote in an email. "More importantly, he traveled throughout the district encouraging Democrats with his sound campaign platform and consistent messaging."
Enderlin, A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot, lives in Newnan, 35 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta.
The son of Charles and Patty Enderlin, he is a graduate of Catholic High School.
Womack on a roll:
No votes missed
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack hasn't missed a vote since going to Congress in January 2011.
Last month, he cast his 5,000th consecutive vote, Now he's working on reaching 6,000.
Since narrowly winning the Republican nomination in 2010, Womack has never captured less than 72 percent of the ballots cast in elections in the 3rd District.
In Tuesday's primary, the Republican from Rogers received nearly 84 percent of the support of voters.
"I think part of the reason why I have this support of my district is because they know I'm here doing my job," Womack said in an interview. "Part of my job is voting."
Luck plays a role in the streak, he said.
"I've been blessed not to have a personal tragedy or hardship that has kept me from being in Washington during votes, and I'm grateful for that. I know it will change eventually," he added.
The 3rd District hasn't sent a Democrat to Congress since the 1960s. Josh Mahony of Fayetteville, the party's nominee, hopes to change that.
Insurance group
given Capitol tour
Hundreds of members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday, including 11 from Arkansas.
"Every state has brought enough people to visit every single congressman and senator," said Dolores Chitwood, Arkansas' state legislative chairman of the association.
The event occurs annually.
"We do this because NAIFA's mission is to review legislation and regulation that affects the insurance that our clients buy," Chitwood said.
The Fort Smith woman and her colleagues were also invited to go on a night tour of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday that was led by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs.
The congressman has been accessible, she said.
"He's very responsive to our insight and our suggestions," she said. "He doesn't give us lip service but he really listens to what we have to say and that's important."
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected]. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Washington bureau? It's available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.
SundayMonday on 05/27/2018