{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012335/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-gen-clark-to-agree-to-free-cell-phone-debate-disclose-campaigns-financial-supporters", "Vitter Urges Gen. Clark to Agree to Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Campaign\u2019s Financial Supporters", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Urges Gen. Clark to Agree to Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Campaign\u2019s Financial Supporters\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tGen. Clark to testify before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today followed up to his November 18 letter to Gen. Wesley Clark regarding Vitter\u2019s invitation to publicly debate Clark\u2019s campaign for free government cell phones. Vitter had also previously asked Clark to disclose the financial contributors to his advocacy campaign promoting free cell phones. In Clark\u2019s initial response, he did not disclose who was financially responsible nor did he commit to any of the dates Vitter proposed for a debate. Click here to read Vitter\u2019s Nov. 18 letter.\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely disappointed that General Clark has still refused to come clean about where his campaign funding is coming from,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to debate the fraud-ridden Lifeline phone program publically as soon as he is, but he hasn\u2019t officially agreed to a debate yet. Coincidentally, Clark is also appearing at an EPW committee this week, so I\u2019ll have another opportunity to ask him in person.\u201d\nClark is scheduled to testify before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee this Wednesday, December 11. Vitter is the top Republican on the committee.\nVitter first challenged Clark to a debate after Clark criticized Vitter\u2019s efforts to end the free government cellphone program known as Lifeline during a visit to Louisiana. Vitter has authored legislation to end the free cell phone portion of Lifeline and cites massive fraud surrounding the program. Clark agreed to a debate in a phone conversation with Vitter. Click here to read more.\nClick here for the news report about Clark\u2019s first visit to Louisiana and Vitter\u2019s response.\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s second letter back to Clark today.\n  December 10, 2013\nGeneral Wesley K. Clark   Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC  P.O. Box 3276  Little Rock, Arkansas 72203\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL\nDear General Clark:\nI look forward to seeing you before the EPW Committee on Wednesday and hearing your testimony in support of the corn ethanol mandate.\nI write to again ask a specific question that you can answer at your appearance or in advance in writing, if you prefer.\nAt Wednesday's hearing, you are appearing on behalf of Growth Energy. This organization is the advocacy arm of the ethanol industry, thus representing big businesses that benefit financially from the government-mandated ethanol program.\nThis situation seems reminiscent of your advocacy for the free government cell phone program. So I again ask: Have you or any businesses or political PACs with which you are associated, including the veterans organization that sponsored your Lifeline visit to Louisiana, been paid or hired by entities that benefit financially from the Lifeline program? If so, by whom and how much?\nAs you know, I have asked this latter question of you repeatedly in writing. (See attached letters of October 2 and November 18.) You committed to answer this in writing in our phone conversation of October 8 but to date have reneged on that commitment.\nThank you in advance for finally answering this question. If you want to keep this separate from your testimony at the hearing, thank you for answering it in writing prior to the hearing.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter  U.S. Senator\nAttachments", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012335/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-gen-clark-to-agree-to-free-cell-phone-debate-disclose-campaigns-financial-supporters"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.2988072596490383, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}