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Huckabee backpedals on school vending machine rules Tuesday, Jul 26, 2005 By Aaron Sadler Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Fresh from announcing his nationwide health initiative, Gov. Mike Huckabee changed course Monday to support guidelines for healthier choices at public schools in Arkansas. Huckabee backtracked from an early June letter where he said local school districts should decide on use and content of vending machines. Now, the governor says the state Board of Education ought to require tougher rules. In a news conference at the state Capitol, he said the about-face was a result of input from health advisers and a decision to take an aggressive stand for children's health. Last week as Huckabee took over as chairman of the National Governor's Association, he proposed a "Healthy America" initiative similar to his in-state call for smoking cessation and better diet and exercise habits. Monday's announcement comes days after child nutrition advocates and state lawmakers criticized what they believe are toothless proposals leaving many decisions about nutrition and physical activity to local health committees. The Child Health Advisory Committee recommended the proposals be implemented in junior high and high schools statewide starting with the 2005-06 school year. Among committee recommendations were making at least 50 percent of beverages sold to students either water, fruit juice or milk; prohibiting vending machine use until 30 minutes after lunch daily; and limiting volume of soft drinks sold to 12 ounces or less. In June, the governor said he supported the advisory committee's recommendations, yet said individual districts should be left to decide whether to follow the regulations. "To some of you this may represent a significant change, and I guess the answer is, it was," Huckabee said. "But it's based on the fact we're trying to do the best that we can for the students with the best information we can muster." The education board meets Aug. 8 to consider the proposals. The governor stood firm on his belief local districts should oversee rules for student physical activity. He supports 30 minutes of daily activity, but not necessarily in a physical education class. Something as simple as stretching during an academic class or walking several blocks from a bus to school could be considered physical activity, he said. The advisory committee recommended a minimum of 150 minutes per week of physical education classes for elementary school students and 225 minutes for secondary school students. Huckabee's backpedaling on the vending machine regulations won the admiration of Rep. Jay Bradford, D-White Hall. Bradford is the chairman of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor. "I can't say enough for him changing directions," Bradford said. "I really believe once he focused on this issue fast approaching, he looked at the facts and went with the facts." Bradford expects the tougher guidelines to gain swift approval from the board. Jeanna Westmoreland, chairman of the state board, said consensus between Huckabee and lawmakers will definitely make a decision easier. "I am for everything in the best interest of schoolchildren of Arkansas, and what I've heard sounded very positive." she said. Huckabee said statistics provided by Dr. Joe Thompson of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement ultimately affected his decision to support the change. The governor, hesitant to denounce soft drink manufacturers, said there is no known correlation between obesity and the availability of soft drinks. He remains convinced government should avoid becoming "sugar sheriff and grease police." However, he thinks offering healthier choices sends a positive message to students. "It becomes very important for us as a state to set the very best example we can, and to as aggressively as we can justify, try to put in front of students the most appropriate environment for their health," the governor said. Dennis Farmer, president of the Arkansas Soft Drink Association, said at least 115,000 secondary-school students already have vending machine options that meet the advisory committee's proposal. Soft drink vending machines are not allowed in Arkansas elementary schools. |
