LITTLE ROCK - Former U.S. Attorney and candidate for the U.S. Senate Conner Eldridge today criticized Sen. John Boozman for his trip to Pensacola, Florida this week. In a radio-broadcasted story* from Florida's WUWF, an NPR member station, Boozman is heard speaking about his time spent touring a closed courthouse in Florida earlier in the week. Eldridge called on Sen. Boozman to let Arkansas voters and taxpayers know the details of his trip so that they can assess its benefit for our state.
"It’s disappointing that even during a seven-week Congressional recess, John Boozman prefers to spend his time traveling out of state and away from the hardworking Arkansans he was hired to work for," said Eldridge. "What is he doing? Is Arkansas getting anything out of this trip? Sen. Boozman claims he is too busy to debate us here in Arkansas, yet he somehow finds the time to go to Pensacola, Florida. Arkansans are tired of his dodging, hiding, and traveling. They want a U.S. Senator who is present in, engaged with, and proud of Arkansas -- not one who prefers spending his time in other states and countries. I'm proud I have been to all 75 Arkansas counties in less than a year -- many of them twice."
Sen. Boozman's official logs show he has now been to 53 different foreign countries a total of 129 times. Eldridge called it "unsurprising" that John Boozman is unknown by 44% percent of Arkansans, even though he's held federal office for fifteen years.
"Sen. Boozman stopped to tour a damaged courthouse in Florida yesterday," said Eldridge. "It seems he has forgotten he represents Arkansas, and that here in our state, we have major infrastructure problems that need addressing, yet he has taken no action to do so. Instead, he has chosen to spend his fifteen years in office traveling to 53 different countries on the taxpayer dime. And all we've gotten in return is five renamed post offices. It's time for a strong, new voice in the U.S. Senate who is proud of Arkansas, isn't afraid to debate the issues, and will fight for Arkansans every day in the U.S. Senate."
*http://wuwf.org/post/miller-boozman-tour-pensacola-federal-courthouse