Medical report
Sen. Shawn Womack of Mountain Home, integral as Joint Budget co-chairman to the last-stage work on Revenue Stabilization and General Improvement, was taken this morning to the hospital, from where Sen. Gilbert Baker reports that doctors determined that Womack had a heart-related "episode," with very high blood pressure and respiratory problems. The mid-30s senator, with a family history of heart problems and cholesterol issues, is now stabilized and resting comfortably, but Baker says no decision has been made on further medical action. Beyond high-profile activities on the budget and as sponsor of the bill to ban gay and unwed cohabitant foster parenting and adoption, Womack also was a key vote this afternoon for the bill to make extreme animal cruelty a felony, owing in part to the strong support of his home-county sheriff. That one may be close.