Here's a copy of the release we sent to the media today:

FAYETTEVILLE - Democratic candidate for US Congress, David Whitaker, appeared at the annual conference of the Arkansas Economic Developers in Hot Springs on Tuesday, speaking at a forum with his opponent, Rogers Mayor Steve Womack. The topic of the day was economic development in Arkansas, and David's plan to bring growth to Arkansas left no doubt who he would put first in Washington.

"It was an honor to get to speak with the folks who create jobs in Arkansas. In order to get this economy into a real recovery, we've got to put small businesses and working middle-class families first," Whitaker said.

Whitaker's economic plans include extending tax cuts to middle-class families and small businesses, and making sure that companies that employ the majority of their workers in the United States receive incentives for creating jobs.

We're headed out to the Benton County fair to meet voters tonight, which will put us at six counties in six days! Here's the press release that we sent out today, talking about David's commitment to being competitive in the whole district:

Whitaker called out his Republican opponent for his silence on jobs, tax policy, infrastructure, and Social Security - all issues addressed by the Democrat's campaign over the past two weeks. 

FAYETTEVILLE - David Whitaker, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Arkansas' Third District, congratulated the Northwest Arkansas Council for securing funds to begin work on the Bella Vista bypass project, and announced his support for the completion of this major interstate linkage.

Together with $10 million from the Federal Highway Administration, the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department will contribute another $43 million to begin construction, according to an agreement signed between the two agencies at the annual meeting of the NWA Council.

"This is one more example of government helping our communities realize their infrastructure goals - something that will create jobs in the Third District and provide economic linkage for the state," Whitaker said.

The beginning of work on the bypass brings to light the critical need for infrastructure development in the district. There are numerous highway and transportation projects that have gone unfunded during the current Republican Congressman's tenure, including development needs ranging from rural water service to making broadband internet more accessible to rural areas.

"Our current Congressman holds a seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and still has not been able to secure the funding necessary to realize critical infrastructure projects, including the Bella Vista bypass. If we send another do nothing Congressman to Washington, we'll get exactly what we expect: more failed leadership." 

Whitaker has pledged as Congressman to make infrastructure development and technological innovation key components of his work in the House. From the very beginning, he has put transportation and completing the economic linkage of the state at the forefront of his key legislative objectives.

FAYETTEVILLE - David Whitaker, candidate for the US House of Representatives in the Third District of Arkansas, called today for the Obama administration and congressional leaders to extend tax cuts for middle-class Americans and roll back those for the very wealthy.

"It's time for us to get our priorities straight, and the economic focus back on the middle class," Whitaker said. "We've got to reign in our budget and make sure that small businesses and the people that drive job creation are the focus, not millionaires.

"It's obvious that with record deficits, we have to make hard decisions. I fully support retaining the tax cuts for middle-class Americas, but when it comes to tax breaks for the rich, we've got to say enough is enough," Whitaker said.

Whitaker favors a proposal to extend tax rate reductions beyond this year for the middle income brackets, where the vast majority of Arkansans fall, while allowing only the highest earning category to revert to its former rate. Extending this tax cut for the wealthy beyond 2010 would unnecessarily jeopardize the welfare of future generations of Americans, and further constrain the federal treasury from meeting its existing obligations.

"Less than two percent of Arkansas households will be affected by this change, and it's time that we prioritize middle-class families and small-business owners." Whitaker continued, "In my Congressional office, we're always going to put working families first. Contrast that with my opponent, who will go to bat every day for his millionaire friends that write his campaign checks." 

"My opponent seems to think that all small business owners rich. More than 98% of all small business-owners fall into tax brackets that would keep their tax breaks under this plan. We're on their side - our opponent is on the side of the very rich.," Whitaker explained.

Allowing the highest income tax bracket to revert to the pre-2000 levels, when this nation enjoyed its largest expansion and job growth in decades, would still result in the lowest marginal tax rate for the highest earning Americans since 1993.

"Reducing this tax cut for the wealthiest Americans means they might not get to buy a second home or take a third vacation. For middle-class Americans, these tax breaks mean the difference between making the mortgage payment or picking up a second or third job," Whitaker said.

"I know who I'm going to work for in Washington.