NWAOnline’s Legislative Coverage

Gov. Mike Beebe informed the Joint Budget Committee this morning that he recommended moving $1.5 million out of the tobacco use cessation program and putting it in drug courts for juveniles. That’s a direct result of Sen. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins. Pritchard had been working on a bill to do just that, and he had been in talks with the governor to make the change without a bill, too.

The smoking cessation money comes from the tobacco settlement funds the state was awarded when states including Arkansas sued tobacco companies for health claims years ago. The governor’s letter to the budget committee said this was an appropriate use of the money under the plan approved by Arkansas voters since there is a proven connection between tobacco use and other substance abuse.