Here’s a fun fact I just read it in new book called The Blue Zones Challenge by Dan Buettner. Most New Year’s Resolutions last for 4-6 weeks. Then people go back to their old habits. So, there are two ways to approach this problem. You can do what the experts who follow the people who live the longest suggest and make meaningful changes in sustainable ways, like changing your environment, support group, etc. so that your every move becomes measurably better.
As we close out another tough year, I’d like to praise the 3 million people who call Arkansas home. Arkansans always are the first to arrive, they give all they have, and they don’t leave until the job is done. During this last year, Arkansas has had its share of challenges, and we have faced each one with determination and compassion.
When we hear the latest from Washington each day, it is easy to get distracted by the drama of disagreements. But what you don’t usually see on the news are the things we agree on, and the work behind the scenes that truly touches families and hardworking Arkansans.
My oldest son and I have recently been debating the proposition that science is dead. As a highly trained dermatologist that proposition is very troubling to him, and he strongly insists it is false. I point out to him that public policy in the United States, specifically the federal government’s response to covid, is unscientific. That policy was fashioned by the top medical officials in the country and enforced by the President.
Little Rock– When the new year begins, the Arkansas Works program will have a new name and will operate under new rules. ARHOME is the new Medicaid program.
We recently celebrated the life of former Senator Bob Dole, an American hero who dedicated his life to serving others. He sacrificed his own safety and almost paid the ultimate price as an Army lieutenant during World War II and, after he was saved, the people of his Kansas hometown rallied to support his recovery needs. He repaid them by serving as their voice in Washington for decades while also reliably advocating for veterans.
From reducing income tax to lowering the sales tax on used cars, there are several pieces of tax legislation passed in 2021 that will take effect on January 1, 2022. In the most recent special session, the General Assembly passed Act 1 and Act 2, which are identical pieces of legislation that reduce the top income tax rate for individuals from 5.9% to 4.9% incrementally over the next four years.
Little Rock– State government had an eventful year in 2021, and much of the activity occurred in the Arkansas Senate. In January the legislature convened in regular session and approved a list of bills to lessen the impact that public health orders had on individuals and businesses.
Today, I’d like to talk about Christmas and what the season for giving means to me. Christmas is my favorite time at the Governor’s Mansion and at the State Capitol.
“Well, if it isn’t the Fleming girls,” Santa’s deep voice boomed to my sister and I. The year was about 1967 and two little girls stood amazed before this man clad in red and white in a shopping mall in a Kansas City suburb. It was like standing before the powerful and all-knowing Oz. He continued, “I happen to know that after you two go to bed each night you giggle and tell each other stories until your parents have to come to your bedroom door and tell you to go to sleep.” We nodded in wide-eyed silence. What else could we do? It was Santa. And he had just disclosed our nightly routine that only we knew. There we were standing before him, and he knew our names! The stories about him delivering presents one night a year to every household to good girls and boys made him mysterious to us. We were believers.