Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on January 26, 2005

Click here to view bill details.

Just what we need, more non-funded state mandates on the local school district. Isn't this just the thing that the state beefs about with the federal government. Who is going to pay for all this extra work? This inherently implies more people to do government work, more people to regulate and enforce, more work for lawyers to sue local districts that don't have the money anyway. Leave the locals alone, don't regulate more and don't tax me any further than you do now.

According to the latest BLS figures, Michigan's (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate is 7.3%. We are now tied with Alaska for having the highest unemployment rate of any state. So today's food for thought is, how much time do our legislators spend on nanny projects like this, compared to the time they spend making it easier and more attractive to do business in Michigan?

This kind of legislation would only burden our schools more than they are burdened now. What would be the decision on fundraising candy sales? My children are being raised to make good choices. The state does not have to decide for them.

In regard to Senate bill 91 there is some concern about more government meddling in local school districts business and additional costs involved in administrating this law. Point well taken but in my opinion it is necessary as local school officials are unwilling to make the responsible choices in dealing with our children's health and nutrition. SB 91 would make a statement that the public is tired of the exploitation of our children and their weakeness in the ability to choose a healthy lifestyle. Many parents say they are educating their child to make healthy food choices yet these exclusive contracts with beverage companies that know full well that when providing 24 hour per day vending machines throughout the halls of our schools it is very hard to resist purchasing these products. Even if those parents are successful in teaching their child good nutrition habits they condone and encourage the monies brought in by those children who cannot resist the temptation of unlimited supplies of sugary beverages peddled by the schools. Whomsoever should read this post, Please vote yes for Verge Bernero's senate bill 91 and get the junk food sales out of our schools.

This kind of meddling is not what we want our government to be working on - where are your priorities? I don't need the government to tell me what to feed my kids. The schools don't need another parent responsibility when they already are burdened. Try working on jobs and the economy!

Kids eat enough junk food at home. Get the soda machines out, stop the admistration from ordering Little Cesars and Stop the teachers from stopping-off at McDonald's on the way back from a field trip. That's all we hear from School Boards is that; kids are too fat, and Diabetes in kids is higher than ever before. Then let's stop the laziness and bring back cafeteria workers who know how to cook instead of cateteria workers who just know how to dial for carry-out.