Mississippi Pols Seek To Ban Fats

The Smoking Gun ^ | 2/1/2008 | The Smoking Gun

[mmichaels1970]

New bill would make it illegal for restaurants to serve the obese

FEBRUARY 1--Mississippi legislators this week introduced a bill that would make it illegal for state-licensed restaurants to serve obese patrons. Bill No. 282, a copy of which you'll find below, is the brainchild of three members of the state's House of Representatives, Republicans W. T. Mayhall, Jr. and John Read, and Democrat Bobby Shows. The bill, which is likely dead on arrival, proposes that the state's Department of Health establish weight criteria after consultation with Mississippi's Council on Obesity. It does not detail what penalties an eatery would face if its grub was served to someone with an excessive body mass index.

[mrsmel]

That’s like me saying that I would give all my money to charity if I won the lottery, when I know I never will (especially since I don’t play it). They can introduce perfectly silly legislation to make their point and pretend to be serious, because they know darn well it’ll never get far enough that they’ll have to defend it to Mississippians.

[mmichaels1970]

I thought it said, "banning farts".

Nope, but a drastic fart reduction in restaraunts (and in their parking lots) would probably be a residual affect of this bill.

[Wuli]

mcpain is not winning gop/conservative majorities in any state so far

the gop/conservative majority has voted against mcpain with its votes split between multiple mcpain opponents

i think that is the truth about the gop internally in most states

[rocksblues]

No eating, no drinking, no freedom in Mississippi. Yet you can gamble!

[petitfour]

MS Ping

[coydog]

This 1978 short story is getting closer to reality all the time...

[swarthyguy]

The president declared a health emergency and Congress passed something called the National Health Maintenance Act which said that since certain citizens were behaving irresponsibly by abusing their bodies and thereby giving rise to chronic diseases which resulted in consumption of more that their fair share of medical care at public expense, it was resolved that, in the public interest and for the public good, certain commodities would henceforth and hereafter be either prescribed or strictly rationed. Or something like that.

Foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats headed the list. Next came tobacco and any alcoholic beverage over 30 proof.

Apart from the order listed, quite prescient.

[Hawthorn]

> Has anyone considered the possibility that these gentlemen were being purposefully ironic? <

You nailed it. It’s long been clear to me that your typical Yankee often has trouble appreciating the sense of humor of a good ole boy from the Magnolia State!

[LibLieSlayer]

It would certainly crimp Haley’s style and number of places he can eat. I love the guy... but he is not exactly skinny. He will veto this fish bait in a heart beat!

LLS

[WileyPink]

Here is the contact and other information about Rep. Mayhall from his web site... http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/mayhall.xml

W. T. Mayhall, Jr.
District 40 - DeSoto County - Republican

Legislative Experience: 2004-present

Education:
University of Memphis
Northwestern University

Occupation:
Retired Pharmaceutical Sales(DuPont-Merck)

Committee Membership:
· Agriculture
· Conservation and Water Resources
· Judiciary B
· Judiciary En Banc
· Marine Resources

Contact Information:

Capitol:
P. O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215

Home:
8417 Cedarbrush Drive
Southaven, MS 38671
(662)393-2069 (H)
(901)734-9540 (C)

Representative Mayhall is a member of Horn Lake Masonic Lodge 617, Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce, Southaven Chamber of Commerce, and the Civil War Preservation Trust.

Representative Mayhall born March 23, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee and is married to the former Minnie Melton. He is of the Methodist faith.

Email: tmayhall@house.ms.gov

[apillar]

Wait until socialized medicine gets here. Then the Government will have a financial stake in keeping you fit and trim...

I can easily envision a day where laws like this are the norm with the overweight being treated with the same contempt as smokers are today. Imagine the embarrassment if you went to restaurant with a group of friends and being weighed before you can order, then being told you were a couple pounds over your government mandated target weight therefore you could only order the salad and water. Then you realize that you don't have time for dinner at all because you haven't completed you mandatory 5 hours of exercise for the week so you have to go the government sponsored gym to clock in for your remaining hour to prevent being slapped with the unhealthy lifestyle tax.

[A Strict Constructionist]

“Big Government for Jesus” path and that includes legislation to protect our temple, i.e., the body, through government mandate...

A Fascist is still a Fascist regardless of how often they pray. They are anti-American as they do not believe in the Constitution.

[mrsmel]

For starters, the casinos would put the kibbosh on it, considering all the business they get for their buffets.

[vetvetdoug]

This week has shown that Mississippi has the one of the most ignorant and oppressive communistic legislatures in the country. HB 2286 was introduced this week by Democrats that proposed a law that all ammunition sold in the state will have to have a laser serial number imprinted upon the bullet and case. The law was to go into effect by this summer. The law also had a provision that any ammunition found in the possession of individuals without this serial number after 2010 will be charged with a felony (this includes antique Civil War bullets and collector’s ammunition)This law also circumvented the 4th Amendment because it allowed the Police to search premises for the “illegal” ammunition without a search warrant. Eric Powell of Corinth, Mississippi, sent this bill to the House...a black, union member, trial lawyer supported Democrat....

[mrsmel]

LOL. Yes he will. My husband likes his food, so I understand :) Hey, you don’t live forever no matter what you do, so if food is one of the things that make life worth living to a person, I say eat with gusto :)

[mrsmel]

And I bet it has zero chance of becoming law. Waaayyy too many hunters in this state.

[allmendream]

Ive been to Mississippi. If they ban fats they will exile a significant portion of their population who are over 50% fat by volume.

[coydog]

Food is one of the things people will riot over. They’d be playing with fire here.

[LibLieSlayer]

You speak the truth oh wise one! :-)

LLS

[mrsmel]

:D