The Independent’s News of The Week reported that Hannah-Beth Jackson is presenting Senate Bill 464, “an obesity-fighting measure” that encourages healthy eating and limits or eliminates the time kids spend in front of a computer or television. Bravo HBJ! Bravo! I read the bill online and it all sounds very positive. I’m curious, though, as to how these childcare facilities will be able to increase their food budgets because, as we all know, fresh, healthy food isn’t cheap. I’m also curious about whether – if kids are no longer going to be allowed to sit in front of a TV, eat fried food, or drink sugary beverages, and are participating in physical activity for every 15 minutes per hour of care (in some cases) – HBJ has considered also providing energy supplements for the childcare teachers, many of whom are likely surviving on ramen noodles? Or, at least, increasing coffee budgets so teachers can get right to work on implementing the educational programs for parents that the bill also requires? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great idea to encourage healthy living, but continuing to ask more and more of teachers while underpaying them and causing many of them to live in anxiety over potential pink slips has got to be insulting. I’m neither a parent nor a teacher and this irritates me. I guess ultimately I’m just sick of lawmakers writing and passing half-thought-out bills that affect our lives.

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