Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Next article
FBI announces reward in case of power li…

Friday, August 23, 2013

Arkansas Politics Griffin, Crawford dance around shutdown threat

Posted By Max Brantley on Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 7:15 AM

click to enlarge

DODGING: Tim Griffin in shot from video in which he avoids direct question on government shutdown.

DODGING: Tim Griffin in shot from video in which he avoids direct question on government shutdown.

I wrote yesterday at some length about the appearance of the names of Republican Reps. Rick Crawford and Tim Griffin on a letter signed by 80 House members that news organizations left, right and center (AP) have construed as a threat to vote against continuing federal spending if it includes money for Obamacare. Government shutdown, in other words.

Griffin's office sent me a brief statement yesterday that said he opposed a government shutdown, but his office wouldn't elaborate on the reports that suggested he'd taken a position to the contrary.

Stephens Media got a further comment from him and also from Crawford, whose office didn't respond to my requests for information.

Said Griffin:

“The letter does not advocate for a government shutdown: You won’t find those words anywhere in the letter, just like you can’t find any of the lower costs or economic benefits President Obama and Nancy Pelosi attribute to Obamacare,” Griffin said.

Said Crawford:

“I believe that rushing ahead with $1.3 trillion in new entitlement spending in the middle of a debt crisis is irresponsible and the letter I signed expresses my desire for House leadership to consider using the appropriations process as a mechanism to move toward stopping this madness,” Crawford said.

So we are back to square one with Tim Griffin. He STILL has not issued a definitive statement on whether he'd vote for a shutdown if Obamacare is part of the spending bill. His refusal to say so — and his signature on this letter — is strong circumstantial evidence that he's in the shutdown crowd. As Crawford clearly is as well.
Sheep and goat time is coming. Vote to serve the sick and hungry or not.

Tags: Tim Griffin, Rick Crawford, government shutdown, Arkansas Politics, Image

From the ArkTimes store

Tweet

Instapaper

    Favorite
  Saving…
Share

    Comments
    
      (6)
    
Email

Comments (6)

Showing 1-6 of 6

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-6 of 6

More by Max Brantley

Martha Shoffner, nearing completion of term, back in Arkansas

Martha Shoffner, who reported to federal prison Nov. 3, 2015 for a 30-month sentence for taking bribes in return for state bond business when she was state treasurer, is nearing the end of her sentence and n
- by Max Brantley
- Sep 22, 2017
Police release details on officer shooting Wednesday night

The Little Rock police this morning finally provided more details on officers' shooting of a criminal suspect Wednesday night in Southwest Little Rock.
- by Max Brantley
- Sep 22, 2017
ACLU: School crisis 60th no time for celebration. Plus, a message for the governor

Rita Sklar, executive director of the Arkansas affiliate of the American Civil LIberties Union, has issued a statement taking issue with those who view the 60th anniversary of Central High's limited desegregation thanks to federal court and troops as a "celebration." Plus, my own suggestion for Monday speech-makers.
- by Max Brantley
- Sep 22, 2017
More »

Readers also liked…

Super Bowl line

Over to you.
- by Lindsey Millar
- Feb 7, 2016
Antwan Phillips wants to make a difference in reducing Little Rock violence

KARK/Fox 16's push to do something about Little Rock violence includes a spotlight on people trying to make a difference — in this episode Antwan Phillips, a lawyer at Wright, Lindsey and Jennings.
- by Max Brantley
- Aug 30, 2017
Kenneth Starr: A comment from Betsey Wright

Betsey Wright, former President Bill Clinton's chief of staff when he was Arkansas governor, responds bitterly to a New York Times article today quoting Whitewater Prosecutor Kenneth Starr's warm words about Clinton. She can't forget the lives Starr ruined in Arkansas.
- by Max Brantley
- May 24, 2016

Most Shared

ASU to reap $3.69 million from estate of Jim and Wanda Lee Vaughn

Arkansas State University announced today plans for spending an expected $3.69 million gift in the final distribution of the estate of Jim and Wanda Lee Vaughn, who died in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Bad health care bill, again

Wait! Postpone tax reform and everything else for a while longer because the Senate is going to try to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act one more time before September ends and while it can do it with the votes of only 50 senators.
Sex on campus

Look, the Great Campus Rape Crisis was mainly hype all along. What Vice President Joe Biden described as an epidemic of sexual violence sweeping American college campuses in 2011 was vastly overstated.
The inadequate legacy of Brown

LRSD continues to abdicate its responsibility to educate poor black students.

RT @TyThomason: Crowd applauds as members of Little Rock Nine enter the room. Press conference underway. #LR9 #Central60 https://t.co/WUZMI…
Fox16 News

RT @GinnyMonk: Gang activity factors in to Little Rock shootings, authorities say https://t.co/EriY5CStOe
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

RT @voxdotcom: Jimmy Kimmel vs. Cassidy, round 3: "If these guys would tell the truth … I wouldn’t have to" https://t.co/TAOsOeBSuk
Arkansas Blog - Max Brantley

President Trump labels Russia investigations a 'hoax' - https://t.co/GAzcysajg2 https://t.co/q5vTzdzJNJ
KATV News

RT @JessiTurnure: Sunday's @CapitolViewAR lineup: Health care: @gregleding + @kimdhammer LR 9: @xjelliott + @JLRIII Gov transparency:…
KARK4News

More Headlines...

Most Viewed

A Highway 10 traffic solution recommendation

The Arkansas Department of Transportation has announced its preferences for interchange and other improvements along the Highway 10 corridor between Pleasant Valley Drive and Pleasant Ridge Road.
City identifies recipients of cop incentive payments who left force

Blogger Russ Racop shares the fruits of his Freedom of Information Act request to determine who received $5,000 recruiting incentives to join the Little Rock Police Department and then left the force.
Legislators must give testimony in Fayetteville rights case UPDATE

Interim word from the hearing in Circuit Court in Fayetteville in which the ACLU and others are challenging the constitutionality of the state law that prevents cities from adopting civil rights ordinances to protect gay people.
ACLU: School crisis 60th no time for celebration. Plus, a message for the governor

Rita Sklar, executive director of the Arkansas affiliate of the American Civil LIberties Union, has issued a statement taking issue with those who view the 60th anniversary of Central High's limited desegregation thanks to federal court and troops as a "celebration." Plus, my own suggestion for Monday speech-makers.

Most Recent Comments

Re: ACLU: School crisis 60th no time for celebration. Plus, a message for the governor
- Mission Accomplished! "Fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get…
- Posted by Zatharus
- on September 22, 2017
Re: Radical government: The Obamacare repeal
- "The reasons are complex, woven into the fabric of a changing economy and an evolving…
- Posted by Norma Bates
- on September 22, 2017
Re: Radical government: The Obamacare repeal
- Jo said that the solution is for each republican to take 1 senile dementia ridden…
- Posted by Going for the record again
- on September 22, 2017

Top Commenters

Site Index

News

Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Jay Barth / Words / Guest Writer / Letters

Entertainment

A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / Calendar / Gallery Listings

This Week's Cover

Cover of this issue of The Arkansas Times

Quick Links

Special Publications

Browse Blogs

Browse Dining

Browse News

Browse Entertainment

Browse Guides

Browse Archives

Browse Best Of Ark

Browse Contact / Subscribe

Arkansas Blog

Friday, August 23, 2013

Arkansas Politics Griffin, Crawford dance around shutdown threat

Posted By Max Brantley on Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 7:15 AM

From the ArkTimes store

Comments (6)

More by Max Brantley

Martha Shoffner, who reported to federal prison Nov. 3, 2015 for a 30-month sentence for taking bribes in return for state bond business when she was state treasurer, is nearing the end of her sentence and n

The Little Rock police this morning finally provided more details on officers' shooting of a criminal suspect Wednesday night in Southwest Little Rock.

Readers also liked…

Over to you.

KARK/Fox 16's push to do something about Little Rock violence includes a spotlight on people trying to make a difference — in this episode Antwan Phillips, a lawyer at Wright, Lindsey and Jennings.

Betsey Wright, former President Bill Clinton's chief of staff when he was Arkansas governor, responds bitterly to a New York Times article today quoting Whitewater Prosecutor Kenneth Starr's warm words about Clinton. She can't forget the lives Starr ruined in Arkansas.

Most Shared

Arkansas State University announced today plans for spending an expected $3.69 million gift in the final distribution of the estate of Jim and Wanda Lee Vaughn, who died in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Wait! Postpone tax reform and everything else for a while longer because the Senate is going to try to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act one more time before September ends and while it can do it with the votes of only 50 senators.

Look, the Great Campus Rape Crisis was mainly hype all along. What Vice President Joe Biden described as an epidemic of sexual violence sweeping American college campuses in 2011 was vastly overstated.

LRSD continues to abdicate its responsibility to educate poor black students.

Most Viewed

The Arkansas Department of Transportation has announced its preferences for interchange and other improvements along the Highway 10 corridor between Pleasant Valley Drive and Pleasant Ridge Road.

Blogger Russ Racop shares the fruits of his Freedom of Information Act request to determine who received $5,000 recruiting incentives to join the Little Rock Police Department and then left the force.

Interim word from the hearing in Circuit Court in Fayetteville in which the ACLU and others are challenging the constitutionality of the state law that prevents cities from adopting civil rights ordinances to protect gay people.