Arkansas Congress member passes away at 80.

Marion Berry, a former Democratic congressman who represented Arkansas' 1st Congressional District for seven terms, has died at the age of 80 following a long illness. During his 14 years in Congress, Berry served on the powerful House Committee on Appropriations and several of its subcommittees, including Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. He was also a member of the House Budget Committee and was noted for seeking balanced budgets and a reduction of the national debt while safeguarding Social Security and Medicare. Berry was a champion of Arkansas farmers and was known for promoting the Gillett Coon Supper, an annual fundraiser that was one of the biggest unofficial political events in the state.