This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 11, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Arkansas Democrats are ecstatic about Vice President Kamala Harris' choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

Harris named Walz to the Democratic presidential ticket last Tuesday, with the vice president and Democrats across the country now working to build momentum ahead of this fall's election.

Walz, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is currently in the middle of his second term as governor.

STORY: Arkansas Democrats ecstatic about Harris’ running mate pick; Republicans criticize Walz' record

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is helping lead a bipartisan effort addressing the current system used by Medicare for reimbursing doctors.

Boozman and Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced the Physician Fee Stabilization Act before the Senate began its August recess. The legislation would update the current fee schedule and prevent future reductions in payments to physicians.

STORY: Boozman helping lead charge addressing Medicare payments

Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are hopeful about securing millions of dollars for projects in Arkansas.

The lawmakers submitted funding requests to the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Committees to support projects across the Natural State ranging from interstate construction to work at the former Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs.

Check Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story

Thank you for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can also track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.