Election Central: Senate Race Spars On Farm Bill Vote

The Farm Bill is back in the headlines, plus a new endorsement from a veterans group, and a new plan to bring jobs back to the U.S. KATV’s Janelle Lilley has the latest rundown of Arkansas politics.

VETS FOR COTTON
Representative Tom Cotton received an endorsement from another veterans’ group in his run for the U.S. Senate.

The Support and Defend PAC issued a statement of support saying the Senate needs “more selfless leaders” like Tom Cotton.

DISASTER RELIEF DEBATE
Yesterday, the entire Arkansas Congressional delegation announced that the federal government had accepted Governor Mike Beebe’s request to declare 23 counties disaster areas – following severe weather last month, including flash floods which devastated thousands of acres of crops and pastures. The declaration allows farmers to receive assistance to recover from the losses.

In a joint press release, Representative Cotton praised the decision writing, “I appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s quick approval of Governor Beebe’s disaster declaration request for the 23 impacted counties. I have heard from many farmers about the impact of recent flooding, and I look forward to working with our friends in Arkansas to make sure farmers are able to access the emergency funds they need.”

On Thursday, the Pryor campaign criticized Cotton for touting disaster funds from the Farm Bill, which he opposed. Pryor spokesperson Erik Dorey said, “It takes a special kind of arrogance for Congressman Cotton to take credit for disaster relief funds that he consistently and recklessly opposed.”

Cotton voted against the 2014 Farm Bill, which makes the disaster funds available. Cotton has said before his reason for opposing the bill was too much pork in the legislation, and that it really should be called a “food stamp” bill rather than a “farm bill.”

AHEAD ON FRIDAY
Some political stories to watch out for Friday:

Senator Pryor plans to unveil his new “American-made strong” jobs legislation at the Lexicon Steel facilities in Little Rock. Pryor says it’s intended to build momentum to bring good-paying manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.

Also, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross will be in El Dorado speaking at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy graduation.