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Source: boston.com
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A bill that would ban the sale of sugary drinks and junk food in school vending machines and school stores is gaining momentum in the Legislature, as Massachusetts combats a troubling rise in childhood obesity rates.

The House passed it in January, after nearly a decade of debate on similar bills that went nowhere. Now, Senate President Therese Murray has thrown her support behind the effort and is optimistic that members will embrace it in a scheduled Senate vote today.

Removing junk food offered in schools will not completely solve the problem. The bigger problem is that some schools spent so much time cutting physical education classes because of budget deficits. What we need to do, some way, somehow, is bring those classes back. If we get students moving for 45-60 minutes a day, childhood obesity rates will go down because they’re burning off all that food they’re eating while simultaneously having fun. I remember physical education being cut at my high school past 8th grade because of budget deficits – this left the high schoolers at Latin Academy with no movement of any sort – just six straight hours of either sitting in chairs, moving toward the next class, or eating lunch.

We need to encourage parents to engage their students in healthy exercise and also provide classes for students to exercise as well. Exercise should especially be stressed at the elementary school level (of course, the necessary accommodations and modifications will be made for children on IEPs) and classes containing such should be offered throughout grade school. Exercise is how we get students in shape.

Source: Boston.com
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[Arnold Schwarzenegger] said that in the last 30 years, prison spending increased from 3 percent of the state general fund to 11 percent while higher education spending declined from 10 percent to 7.5 percent.

“Spending 45 percent more on prisons than universities is no way to proceed into the future,’’ he said.

This op-ed by Derrick Z. Jackson brings up California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to bar the state from spending more on prisons than on higher education. I agree that we should not spend more money on prison than education. Perhaps this definition of “education” should extend beyond postsecondary education. How about all schools? Or, in general, how about we pay more attention to rehabilitating criminals than to just locking them up repeatedly? I agree with Jackson’s ending point regarding the cocaine laws:

The laws are so embarrassing that this week, in an interview with the Boston Globe editorial board, Democratic senatorial candidate and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley called the cocaine laws “crazy.’’ It is refreshing to hear a Democrat like her and a Republican like Schwarzenegger say that our criminal justice priorities are insane, with education always getting the strait-jacket. It is the first step out of the asylum.

A brilliant response. The original comment by Iran’s President is here (from CNN).

Senator Kennedy wrote a piece on a health bill that he will introducing to Congress, and I must say, I like the sound of it. I recommend that you read it (from Boston.com):

OVER THE LAST YEAR, I’ve seen our healthcare system up close. I’ve benefitted from the best of medicine, but I’ve also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans.

We have the greatest doctors and medical innovations in the world, but more and more Americans are on the outside looking in to a world of progress and discovery that is denied to them because they cannot afford quality healthcare.

That’s wrong – and it’s about to change.

Click here for more.

Read Op-Ed (Power Struggle, by Joan Vennochi)

This op-ed by Joan Vennochi speaks about the power struggle brewing (or that has already brewed) on Beacon Hill between Governor Patrick and the Legislature. Based on what I’ve red, I would say that the Legislature is more at fault. I haven’t paid enough attention to clearly say whether Deval Patrick is doing a good job in his spot, but we might need someone new come 2010 who can better handle the legislative branch. But I would first suggest getting rid of the top members of the House and Senate. I need to pay close attention to the State House and Senate races this coming election to see if I can vote for someone else. I’m not very happy that we may end up hiking the sales tax without Patrick’s proposed ethics reform. After Dianne Wilkerson, Chuck Turner, and DiMasi, we absolutely need some reform to cut spending. Even if it’s by a little, it’s the principle that matters. We also need to get faith back in the system. Vennochi says it best: “No one looks good. It’s all about power, not the people, and it’s a turnoff.”

I found it silly when Senate President Therese Murray said that “The governor has decided he doesn’t like us”. That sounds like what an immature child would say when (s)he and someone else merely differs in opinion but can still respect each other. Also, calling Patrick “irrelevant” is beyond rude, considering he holds the highest executive office and that his opinions should be put into consideration. Maybe she’s the one that needs to go.

Also, there’s this article by Yvonne Abraham which shows the hypocrisy of some legislature members who take in a per diem while they aim to cut a program for welfare recipients. I don’t know how you read about it and not get annoyed or outraged.

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