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Huckabee rolls out national health initiative Saturday, Sep 24, 2005 By Alison Vekshin Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has lost 110 pounds in two years, on Friday launched a year-long national initiative to urge Americans to live healthier, more active lives. As the new chairman of the National Governors Association, Huckabee has teamed with five other governors to prompt states to enact incentives promoting better nutrition, more exercise and no smoking. "The fact is the poor health habits of the citizens of our country are costing 600,000 Americans their lives every year due to lack of exercise and poor nutrition," Huckabee said. The governor, who took the helm of the NGA in July, rolled out the Healthy America initiative during a speech at a National Press Club luncheon. "Clearly, there is a disconnect somewhere between what we know we ought to do and what we do," he said. Huckabee discussed the strain soaring health-care costs are having on state budgets. "Unlike Washington, we have to balance our budgets," he said. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to do, largely because of the cost of chronic disease that we can do something about and frankly we must do something about." Huckabee modeled the program after the Healthy Arkansas initiative he launched last year targeting state employees, Medicaid recipients and other Arkansans. He drew inspiration from his personal experience, he said. After being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2003, Huckabee embarked on a rigorous diet and exercise regimen. He is training to run a marathon in Washington next month. Huckabee has recruited Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., Tom Vilsack, D-Iowa, Mark Sanford, R-S.C., Phil Bredesen, D-Tenn., and Janet Napolitano, D- Ariz., in the effort. The task force will hold workshops for state officials to examine public-private partnerships and other ideas, look at ways to improve state health programs to promote and reward healthy behavior, and encourage governors to launch state-employee health initiatives as models for the public and private sectors. In October, Huckabee will begin a national tour to promote the program with stops in South Carolina and Iowa. Besides the health initiative, Huckabee fielded questions about his future plans after his term expires in January 2007, including a possible run for president in 2008. "I think it's too early," he said. "I'm not making a decision now and probably won't for 18 months. I'm just keeping options open. "I think it's disingenuous to say 'Oh, gee, it's never crossed my mind,'" he said. "But it would be totally untrue to say 'Yes, I'm going to do it' because I don't know." Nevertheless, the Arkansas governor over the summer visited Iowa and New Hampshire, two key states in the presidential contest. -- 30 -- |
