Repug Ky Legislator Eating Dems' Lunch

Well, this is annoying. A Kentucky state legislator has pre-filed a slew of bills for the upcoming General Assembly session, and each and every one of them represents a positive solution to the severe problem of obesity and bad health in Kentucky's children.

What's so annoying? The legislator who filed those excellent bills is a - gulp - republican.

From Page One:

State Rep. Addia Wuchner pre-filed legislation focused on education and combating childhood obesity for the 2011 legislative session in Frankfort.

“Our children are not only the future leaders of our state, but also our nation and our world,” said Rep. Wuchner. “When it comes to our children, Kentucky’s statistics are frightening. In 2007 Kentucky ranked number one for infant death due to abuse and neglect; fifteen percent of our children struggle and fail in school due to learning disabilities and unaddressed differences like dyslexia; and over one in four of Kentucky children are overweight or obese.”

“In addition, one-third of Kentucky’s children will develop type two diabetes in their lives, and many others will face chronic obesity related health problems like cardiac disease, high blood pressure, and stroke,” Wuchner added. “These tragic statistics reflect not only their futures, but are taking their toll on Kentucky’s economy. It is imperative that we as Kentucky’s leaders of today do everything we can to assure tomorrow’s leaders the best educational opportunities and health initiatives we can offer them.”

Among the pre-filed pieces of legislation (which may be found here):

HB 159 — Seeks to establish the goal of increasing physical activity to 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes a week for all K-5 schools in Kentucky by November 2013. This bill is called the ‘Health Kids Act 2011.

HB 160 — Initiates a change to current school health and physical examination entrance forms for kindergarten and sixth grade; physicians and practitioners would include Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements with height and weight. It would keep the information and health related discussions at the clinical level, with the data only available in aggregate form for statistical data.

BR 310 — A concurrent resolution establishing the Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity, with the goal studying issues relating to the increasing epidemic of childhood obesity in Kentucky and presenting findings and recommendations to the LRC and the IJC on Health and Welfare by November 2011.

BR 311 — Directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish nutritional and physical activity guidelines and standards for licensed child care centers in Kentucky.

BR 312 — Encourage all birthing centers in Kentucky hospitals, to provide parents and caregivers prevention and awareness education on pediatric head trauma prior to baby’s discharge from the hospital following their birth in an effort to combat pediatric abusive head trauma, also known as Shake Baby Syndrome or Death.

BR 197 — Establishes district-wide use of a response-to-intervention system for students in kindergarten through grade three (3), that includes early identification of various learning differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia etc., and provide a tiered continuum of scientifically based research interventions matched to individual student strengths and needs to improve learning outcomes.

BR 263 — Directs the Department of Education to develop the pathway for an alternative diploma for high school students with special needs who can’t meet all the requirements of a traditional high school diploma, but who demonstrate abilities and skills that the current certificate of completion does not fully recognize. The alternate diploma pathway would allow them to continue their skills training and education enter the workforce and live productive lives.

I am especially pleased to see the 30 minutes per day of physical activity requirement in the schools. I was horrified to discover a few years ago that the daily hour of PE we all dreaded back in my day has been eliminated along with art and music. Some schools have been forced to turn their gyms into classrooms.

Does Rep. Wuchner realize that she is violating about 15 fundamental republican precepts against helping public schools or children in poverty, citing scientific facts, interferring with parental rights and promoting socialistic notions of healthy behavior?

And where are the legislature's Democrats on this?