releases: 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
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| 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’s Financial Supporters | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | LA | David Vitter | V000127 | web.archive.org | legacy | Vitter Urges Gen. Clark to Agree to Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Campaign’s Financial Supporters Gen. Clark to testify before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week Tuesday, December 10, 2013 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today followed up to his November 18 letter to Gen. Wesley Clark regarding Vitter’s invitation to publicly debate Clark’s 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’s 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’s Nov. 18 letter. “I’m extremely disappointed that General Clark has still refused to come clean about where his campaign funding is coming from,” Vitter said. “I’m ready to debate the fraud-ridden Lifeline phone program publically as soon as he is, but he hasn’t officially agreed to a debate yet. Coincidentally, Clark is also appearing at an EPW committee this week, so I’ll have another opportunity to ask him in person.” Clark 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. Vitter first challenged Clark to a debate after Clark criticized Vitter’s 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. Click here for the news report about Clark’s first visit to Louisiana and Vitter’s response. Below is a copy of Vitter’s second letter back to Clark today. December 10, 2013 General Wesley K. Clark Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC P.O. Box 3276 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Dear General Clark: I look forward to seeing you before the EPW Committee on Wednesday and hearing your testimony in support of the corn ethanol mandate. I write to again ask a specific question that you can answer at your appearance or in advance in writing, if you prefer. At 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. This 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? As 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. Thank 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. Sincerely, David Vitter U.S. Senator Attachments | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |