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Connecticut
Governor Vetoes Junk Food Bill
Boston.com, June 14, 2005
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The governor
vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have banned most soft drinks
and junk food from Connecticut schools.
Soft drink companies had lobbied fiercely against the bill, and
schools expressed concerns about losing revenue from sales.
Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell said the effort to impose state
standards on school districts for nutrition and physical
education "undermines the control and responsibility of parents
with school-aged children."
The bill would have banned sodas and snacks deemed unhealthy by
the state Department of Education from school cafeterias, school
stores and vending machines.
The legislation also would have required 20 minutes of physical
activity for young students through fifth grade each day,
outside of gym class.
Proponents said that taking sugary soda and junk food away would
teach students about good nutrition choices.
Rell said improving the health and wellness of Connecticut's
children is laudable and called on the education commissioner to
develop guidelines for school nutrition and physical education
policies.
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