'Nanny state,' or looking out for public? By CAROL DEMARE Staff Writer Published: 05:00 a.m., Monday, August 23, 2010
ALBANY -- The Democrats who run the Albany County Legislature like to pass local laws. Critics, often Republicans, say they tend to trample the rights of individuals and private enterprise -- and are yet another intrusion into the lives of citizens.
All but eight of Albany's 39 county lawmakers are Democrats. The legislature's penchant for local laws is likely linked to the dominance by the party that lends itself to a governing style of protecting constituents.
Across the aisle, Minority Leader Christine Benedict and the other six Republicans and single Conservative have opposed most of the three dozen local laws proposed since 2008.
"I don't think government should interfere with the way we live our lives," Benedict said.
Saratoga and Rensselaer counties, both with Republican legislative majorities, pass virtually no local laws.
Schenectady County's GOP minority leader, Robert Farley, said: "I don't believe in hyper-regulation or a nanny state."
Recent targets of Albany's legislature include cyber bullies, idling automobiles, restaurant cleanliness and calorie posting, high-tech smoking devices known as e-cigarettes, dropside cribs and BPA in "sippy" cups. The latter two were subsequently banned by state statute.
A law limiting where sex offenders can live was struck down in court. A bill to make gun shops register ammo sales ignited Second Amendment activists, including the NRA. The measure is languishing in committee.
It was the ban on trans fat that probably sparked the most controversy. The chemically engineered product that has been around since the 1920s has been linked to cardiovascular disease. But bakers balked, in part because their recipes rely on trans fat to hold the frosting on their specialty cakes.
We make sure that we have fruits and veggies in our house. We eat fairly healthy 'most' of the time. But we certainly do enjoy our pizza and wings and the comfort food you speak of when we go out to eat!! And there is always a good desert to be found in our house at any given time!
We make sure that we have fruits and veggies in our house. We eat fairly healthy 'most' of the time. But we certainly do enjoy our pizza and wings and the comfort food you speak of when we go out to eat!! And there is always a good desert to be found in our house at any given time!
mmm.. good dessert .. any time .. I'll be nice to you so maybe you'll invite me over for dessert.
California students get tracking devices The Associated Press Posted: 08/18/2010 08:42:13 AM PDT
RICHMOND, Calif.—California officials are outfitting preschoolers in Contra Costa County with tracking devices they say will save staff time and money.
The system was introduced Tuesday. When at the school, students will wear a jersey that has a small radio frequency tag. The tag will send signals to sensors that help track children's whereabouts, attendance and even whether they've eaten or not.
School officials say it will free up teachers and administrators who previously had to note on paper files when a child was absent or had eaten.
Sung Kim of the county's employment and human services department said the system could save thousands of hours of staff time and pay for itself within a year.
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