State Rep. Robbie Wills used a prop to make a point today in his first address to the House as its new speaker.

The Democrat from Conway held up a device he called a “do-nothing” — a novelty item that at one time was offered for sale at his family’s business in Pickles Gap. The device had a crank which, when turned, did nothing.

“Don’t be a do-nothing,” Wills told newly sworn House members. “Be a do-something.”

Wills offered a list of things he wants lawmakers to accomplish this session, starting with going beyond adequacy in funding public education.

Wills says he also wants to continue investing in work force training, fund infrastructure improvements, extend broadband access to every area of the state and promote job growth.

He urges lawmakers to be “ambitious” on health care issues, funding a statewide trauma system, community health centers, in-home care for the elderly, cancer treatment and Medicaid and expansion of the ARKids First health coverage program for the children of Arkansas’ working poor.

Wills urged House members to make the “courageous decision” to raise the cigarette tax to pay for health care projects because “it’s the right thing to do.”

Wills named chairmen and vice chairmen to a number of House committees, a list of which can be found here.

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter says it’s OK with him if his crowning achievement — a state lottery — isn’t Gov. Mike Beebe’s top priority in the upcoming legislative session.

Beebe says balancing the state budget, funding public education and cutting the grocery tax are higher on his to-do list for the session than creating a structure for the lottery Halter pushed and voters approved in the November general election.

But incoming House Speaker Robbie Wills and Senate leader-to-be Bob Johnson this week identified the lottery issue as their main focus for the session that convenes Monday.

Halter says today, “Everybody’s going to have different points of view about that, and there are several significant issues obviously before the Legislature … People just rank them differently, and that’s fine.”

Halter briefly ran against Beebe as a candidate for governor in 2006 before switching to a campaign for lieutenant governor. The former Clinton administration official then led the effort to put the lottery measure before voters as a way to fund college scholarships. Beebe didn’t take a stand on the lottery until announcing as he left the voting booth he had voted against it.

Arkansans are probably pretty tired today after an official delegation party that lasted well into the night Tuesday.

The party was billed as a tribute to the late Bill Gwatney, who would have been 49 Tuesday. Music was provided by a group that plays at the White Water Tavern in Little Rock. Gwatney chose the musicians before his death Aug. 13, Arkansas Democratic Party officials said.

Former President Bill Clinton did not attend, though he was expected. Among the high profile guests were Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, according to state Rep. Steve Harrelson who is blogging at the convention.

Kaine was on the short list of vice presidential contenders.

Incoming state House Speaker Robbie Wills of Conway billed the event as a “real Who’s Who of Arkansas Democratic politics.” Wills is helping Harrelson, D-Texarkana, on his Web log, Under the Dome, this week.

Harrelson was designated by the Democratic Party as the “official” Arkansas blogger of the convention. He has a prime seat with the Arkansas delegation at the Pepsi Center.

The late-night party was at The Tavern, a nightclub in the trendy LoDo section of Denver. The club’s Web site boasts that its rooftop deck was named one of the “Top 10 Best Rooftops in America” by Playboy magazine.

The deck was indeed impressive. It offered great views of Coors Field, the baseball stadium located right across the street. On Tuesday night, visitors could see mountain vistas to the west illuminated by frequent lightning flashes in the distance.