Arkansas Republican Senate hopeful Tom Cotton is defending his vote to abolish a federal agency formed to assist the Mississippi River Delta, telling leaders from the region that taxpayers aren't getting a good return from its spending.
Cotton said Thursday he believes Arkansans aren't getting enough in exchange for the federal money that goes toward regional commissions like the Delta Regional Authority.
Cotton, a freshman congressman from south Arkansas, voted for a budget proposal that would have eliminated the DRA and other regional commissions.
Cotton is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, who earlier Thursday criticized Cotton over the vote to eliminate DRA's funding.
Cotton was speaking to the Delta Grassroots Caucus at its two-day conference in downtown Little Rock. Pryor is set to address the group on Friday morning.
