Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders turns to tax cuts and public safety proposal

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders told journalists Wednesday she intends to sign the bill this week that would create a monument to unborn children.

Driving the news: Sanders made her first public speech in NWA as governor, attending an Economic Arkansas awards event in Rogers.

• Economics Arkansas is a nonprofit that promotes economic literacy, personal finance and entrepreneurship for students in grades pre-K through 12.

Catch up quick: Sanders delivered the keynote address, largely focusing on actions she's taken since her inauguration: the LEARNS education bill signed last week, the establishment of a workforce cabinet and the importance of teaching children to manage money.

What's next: After the event, Sanders answered a few questions about upcoming plans:

• Lawmakers should expect proposed legislation for public safety — as promised during her campaign — any day, Sanders said.
• Truth in sentencing — so that those convicted of a crime are clear on their full sentence — and prison capacity issues are priorities for her administration, she added.
• Phasing out income taxes.

What she's saying: Cutting taxes will have to be done "responsibly," Sanders said, though she did not elaborate.

• "I think we're going to make great progress on all three fronts during this legislative session," Sanders said.

Of note: Shelley Simpson, president of J.B. Hunt Transportation, was awarded the Excellence in Free Enterprise honor by Economics Arkansas for her work building and expanding new business divisions within the company.