House votes to send child nutrition bill to President Obama (Washington Post)

[pinto]

House votes to send child nutrition bill to President Obama

By Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 2, 2010; 4:04 PM

The Democratic-led House voted Thursday to send President Obama a bill that would enable more poor children to receive free meals at school, raise the nutritional quality of cafeteria fare, and reduce the junk food and sugary beverages sold in school vending machines.

The bill, which cleared the Senate in the summer, won House approval on a 264-157 vote. More than 15 Republicans broke party ranks to join Democrats in favor of the bill. A handful of Democrats were opposed.

The bill, a priority for the president and first lady Michelle Obama, would boost spending on child nutrition $4.5 billion over 10 years and raise federal reimbursements for school lunches more than the inflation rate for the first time since 1973. It also would require for the first time that free drinking water be available where meals are served.

The bill accelerates the budding healthy-food movement in public education - think whole wheat pizza, with lowfat cheese and low-sodium sauce - but leaves unanswered key questions about whether schools can afford to give tens of millions of students better meals.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120202737.html?hpid=topnews

[MindandSoul]

1. I bet Palin isn't that happy about it, after her rant against Michelle

Obama's fight against childhood obesity!

I'm glad it passed! At least one good thing happened today!

[cutlassmama]

2. Free drinking water is an accomplishment by itself. Nothing better

for the kidneys than clean, plain drinking water. Hopefully this will give kids better nutrition which should lead to better learning and healthier food choices when they become adults.

[arcane1]

3. "More than 15 Republicans broke party ranks"

Off-topic, but I hate reporting like this. They have the vote count, why not give the exact number, instead of saying "over 15"?

Aside from that, it's great news! :)

[nykym]

4. I would rather see it

phrased as "ONLY 15" or "UNDER 15" broke ranks, but yes show how many Dems supported it.

[pinto]

5. Yeah, that's the pundit spin, from any perspective. Why not give the tally,

list the votes and let readers form their own opinion. I usually overlook these "inserts" in a story and just go to the actual vote tally to form an opinion.

:hi: