Legislative Silliness

[UNTflyer]

Among the dozens of other items that found their way into the bill on the House floor, many of which had absolutely nothing to do with the reorganization of Texas' largest public agency, are measures that would phase out the use of red-light cameras by cities, and would create new rules for adult business signs along the interstates, and many more.

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Texas restaurants would have to purge their menus of trans fat foods under a bill that the Senate approved on Friday. The measure, passed on a 24-6 vote and sent to the House, would require larger restaurant chains - those with 15 or more locations - to get rid of the trans fat by Sept. 1, 2010, with smaller restraurant chains and stand-alones given an extra year to comply.

Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, author of the bill, said many national chains such as McDonald's and Wendy's already have eliminated trans fat oils from their hamburgers and french fries without any negative effects. While he noted that the Texas Restaurant Association backed the measure, he agreed to carve out specific exemptions for grocery stores, bakeries and non-profit organizations that serve food such as a state or county fair. Still, he said, the ban would go a long way toward improving the health of Texans

The exemptions bothered some senators, who complained they send an inconsistent message. "We're saying it's bad product, but it's OK for kids to eat it on a funnel cake at the state fair," said Sen Mike Jackson, R-La Porte.