NANNY-STATE WATCH

"We have to protect the Teens from themselves"

From Eric Dondero:

The Ninnies are at it again. And predictably, it's a coalition of touchy-feely TV Hosts and do-gooder Democrat lawmakers. Of course, only Republicans stand in their way.

From the LA Times "Protecting the Teens, or expanding the Nanny State?" May 7:

Barring high school students from buying Gatorade on campus, banning metal bats from their baseball games, making it illegal for adolescents to have themselves "branded" with a hot iron: Regulating teenage behavior has become an attractive topic for California's legislators.

Some lawmakers also want to outlaw nipple piercings for teenagers, and prohibit them from snowboarding and skiing without a helmet or reentering a football game too quickly after taking a hard hit to the head.

State Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) is the author of SB 1255, which would ban the on-campus sale of Gatorade and other sugary sports drinks during school hours but allow them at practices and games. He cited studies indicating that many teenagers are switching from sugary sodas, which have already been banned from campuses, to electrolyte-replacement drinks, which can be high in sugar and sodium and can make kids fat.

The always sappy and thoroughly unwatchable Dr. Phil of course chimes in. Continuing:

Supporters of the bills have some influential voices on their side. Among them is TV talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw, who recently told his national audience that he supports the California proposal to require helmets for snowboarding kids.

The reasoning ability of teenagers is not fully developed, McGraw said, and they don't always make good decisions: "We have to protect these kids from themselves."

Republicans firmly on the side of Freedom of Choice

Libertarian-Conservative State Senator Tony Strickland (photo) responds:

"This is a nanny state that tells you what you can eat, what you can drink, what you have to wear during your outdoor recreation," said state Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks). "I believe it's the parents' responsibility to decide what is best for their children. It is arrogance having government officials telling you, 'You're not smart enough, so we're going to tell you what is right and wrong for you.' "

And then there's the metal bat controversy. Once again, it's a Democrat proposing the Nanny-State legislation, and a Republican opposed. Continuing:

A Senate committee on Wednesday recommended a three-year moratorium on the use of metal bats in high school baseball. Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced the measure, AB 7 after a 16-year-old student at Marin Catholic High School was badly injured when a line drive from a metal bat struck him in the head.

"It's time to seriously consider the safety of allowing kids to use performance-enhancing metal bats with the pitcher standing just 60 feet away with virtually no protection," Huffman said before the Senate Education Committee passed the measure on a 3-1 vote.

Two Republicans strongly opposed such a ban:

Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) opposed the bill, saying it is nwarranted meddling by lawmakers in a sport already regulated by a regional federation.

"You have more injuries from fielding, running the bases, than you do from this, and so that begs the question: At what point are we as the Legislature going to step in to [regulate] team sports? Where do we stop?" Huff asked.

Two veteran high school coaches testified against the bill, saying they have never seen a player hurt because of a metal bat. Sen. Mark Wyland (R-Escondido) sarcastically said that if there is a safety justification for such a ban, the state should ban Pop Warner football...