The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 19, 2009

Calorie counting delayed in Senate

Lawmakers OK Go Health Office

Mannix Porterfield

CHARLESTON — Senators didn’t count any calories Thursday, but took a big stride toward creating the proposed Go Health Office and making sure children entering school for the first time get a dental exam.

Time ran out before the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee could take up the fast-food calorie proposal.

When it does early next week, Chairman Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, is bracing for some keen opposition, largely from some corners of the fast-food industry.

“It’s about healthy life-styles, about the obesity issue,” Prezioso said afterward.

“Those are things that are very important to moving this state along. I would hope the fast-food industry would walk hand in hand with us and move this thing forward and take a step that moves West Virginia ahead of the curve.”

Panelists approved SB414 that would create Gov. Joe Man-chin’s proposed Go Health Office, a clearinghouse for government agencies to act in health matters.

Sen. Mike Hall, R-Putnam, voiced concern the legislation is devising another bureaucracy, and a humongous one at that.

“We’re setting up a big government agency here,” Hall said, then wondered why no fiscal note was attached.

Money matters associated with it can be aired when it reaches the finance committee, he was advised.

“Bureaucracies have created their own empires,” Prezioso said.

“This bill allows an individual to look down and see what’s going on.”

Sen. Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell, failed in his effort to strike a provision that allows the Go Health director to file lawsuits, saying this appeared ambiguous since the type of litigation wasn’t spelled out.

But Jenkins prevailed on two amendments to SB485 that requires children entering kindergarten or first grade to provide proof of a dental examination.

Afterward, Prezioso acknowledged fast-food eateries likely will have to invest some money into boards posting the caloric content of foods.

Even if the controversial legislation is enacted, he alluded to an 18-month turnaround in the rule-making process.

In the interim, he noted, the federal government could impose such a law at the national level.

“This is getting the process moving in a timely fashion,” he said.

Prezioso said the bill isn’t aimed at keeping anyone from gulping down greasy burgers and fries.

“Sometimes, every one of us goes in and has a triple burger or whatever,” he said.

“This isn’t going to stop that. It’s not going to tell them what to buy. It just is saying, ‘Hey, look up there and make a decision.’”

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com

Text Only
Local News
AP Video
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com