LITTLE ROCK – The Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock is closing its permanent exhibits to walk-in visitors because of the federal government shutdown.
Clinton’s presidential library is part of the National Archives system and is affected by the partial shutdown that began Tuesday. Officials say permanent exhibits at the library and museum will be closed during the shutdown.
Previously scheduled school and group tours will be honored. The library says a symposium on Bosnia featuring former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will continue as planned Tuesday.
A student workshop scheduled for Wednesday will also be held.
The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will remain open, along with the Clinton Museum Store and the center’s on-site restaurant, Forty Two.
The Clinton center is among several federal facilities closed because of the shutdown. Others affected include Hot Springs National Park, the Fort Smith National Historic Site and the Buffalo National River.
Would-be guests are encouraged to call ahead before visiting any facility with operations linked to federal funds.
Gov. Mike Beebe said Monday that a federal government shutdown would also result in furloughs for some state employees in Arkansas — as 2,000. Beebe said state officials have been planning over the past several days on how to minimize the impact Arkansas would see from a shutdown, but said he didn’t plan on using state money to make up for the loss.
Beebe said that more than 85,000 meals for Arkansas children would not be provided and 2,000 newborn babies would not receive infant formula through the Department of Health’s WIC program. Later in the day, his office said the USDA will give the state money to fund WIC program staffing for at least a week.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton differ on who is to blame for a partial shutdown of the federal government.
Pryor’s re-election campaign said Tuesday that Cotton has been a “cheerleader” for shutting down the government in an effort to stop provisions of the new federal health care act from taking effect. Cotton, who is seeking Pryor’s Senate seat, says Democrats are behind the shutdown because of their dedication to what is often derisively called “Obamacare.”
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