Arkansans in Congress seek follow-through from Bush (UALR Public Radio) - Several members of Congress from Arkansas liked some of the things they heard Monday night from President Bush in his State of the Union speech, but questions were raised about whether the president would follow through.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said she was pleased that Bush talked about an economic-stimulus package, the war in Iraq and health care in his speech.

"Now it's time to put words into action," she said. "The President should join a bipartisan Congress and stop standing in the way of the children's health care bill, which would allow 110,000 kids in Arkansas and 10 million nationwide access to the doctors' visits they need."

Such bipartisan cooperation is needed across the board in dealing with health-care issues, Lincoln said, "so that we may deliver solutions rather than political rhetoric to the American people."

Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said what he heard from Bush about an economic-stimulus package sounded good.

"I think families in Arkansas are nervous about the state of the union and the future - they're feeling the pinch of the economy," Pryor said.

But he said the problem with Bush has been that the president often doesn't follow through on pledges for legislation or to work with Congress.

Pryor said Bush's pledge to veto any appropriations bill that doesn't cut so-called "earmarks" - projects advocated by individual members of Congress - by half probably took by surprise many people in the House chamber audience.

"The easiest way for Congress to handle that is to cut out all the Republican earmarks," Pryor said.

He criticized Bush's approach from another angle, as well.

"The thing I don't like in his dislike of the earmarks is that he takes the position that he and members of his administration know better how to spend money than members of Congress," Pryor said.

The lone Republican in the state's congressional delegation, Rep. John Boozman, supported Bush's call for a reduction in "pet project" funding.

"The earmark system is the most obvious symbol of a broken Washington and why the American people hold us (in Congress) in such low regard," Boozman said. "I applaud the president's call to slash earmarks.

Bush's proposal to expand the benefits for members of the armed services and veterans also drew praise from Boozman.

"Expanding benefits to include child car and hiring preferences for spouses are much-needed steps to do our best by the men and women who give of themselves, and their families, for our nation," Boozman said.

Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., said he hopes Bush follows through on his pledge to be part of a bipartisan effort to provide economic relief to "our working families, seniors and small businesses who have been hurt by the economic downturn and mortgage crisis."

Ross said the state of the economy ranked as the overwhelming top choice among constituents who were asked in his weekly newsletter to identify their No. 1 concern.

"Clearly, most Arkansans are feeling the impact of this downturn and this illustrates how our current economic state is not only being felt by Wall Street, but it is also affecting Main Street," Ross said.

He said he would fight to ensure congressional approval as soon as possible of an economic-stimulus package.

Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., said he was pleased at the priority Bush placed on stimulating a sagging economy.

"I liked his call for an agreement on the stimulus package," Snyder said. "I thought he appropriately put that at the top of his speech."

Snyder said he was also glad that Bush acknowledged the efforts of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, and House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio to put together such a package.

But Snyder said the speech overall was "very uninspiring," comparing unfavorably with the quality of the speeches being given in this year's presidential campaign.

"My guess is that the speech won't move anybody in any direction," Snyder said.

Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., lamented "seven years of failed policies from the Bush Administration."

He called for members of Congress to work together to develop an economic-stimulus package, focused on helping the middle class rather than the special interests.

"This new session of Congress needs to continue to move in a new direction to refocus our nation's priorities and set an agenda for economic growth," Berry said. "Congress must set the agenda and pass middle-class-focused legislation to improve the economy and strengthen America."

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