Statewide trauma system, other health care initiatives are funded

Governor signs tobacco tax increase into law, effective March 1

With the stroke of a pen, the governor has created the 48th trauma system in the United States, and Arkansas will now join the other 49 states with a level one trauma system. It's amazing that just 22 days ago, a few of the bolder legislators hopped on a bus to head over to Children's Hospital to announce that we were about to push through one of the most progressive and expansive health care initiatives in the country. Just three weeks and one day later, it is law.

This is one vote that studies show will save lives. With one of the session's key themes now behind us, we can now turn to the second of the the larger pieces of legislation.

Here's a Herb Sanderson photo (right) with members of the AARP taken prior to the bill signing. On the left is Jerry Lancaster, immediate Past President of the Arkansas AARP and in the middle is Maria Diaz, AR AARP State Director.

Next up on the signing circuit: Rep. Ray Kidd's bill to prohibit texting while driving will be signed into law tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:15 in the Governor's Conference Room.