Can we ever get free of the Nanny?
Nanny Government rears its head again. Now the Congress wants to regulate one of the ingredients in microwave popcorn.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSWAT00816120070926
The House bill would require the Labor Department to develop interim standards, limiting diacetyl exposure by workers in flavor manufacturing plants and microwave popcorn factories. The interim standard would be in effect for up to two years while a final regulation is prepared.
Even though the Senate isn't considering a bill on this, the usual suspects want one.
"Too many workers exposed to diacetyl have become ill or even died," said Senator Edward Kennedy.
Well, exactly how many is that? How many people have come down with what is now referred to as "popcorn lung" due to this? Here (http://12.42.224.225/healthnews/healthday/070901HD607803.htm) you can read that only four cases of this particular type of bronchitis were identified among 102 former plant workers surveyed. Moreover, the precise cause of those four cases may not be the one chemical the Congress seeks to "regulate."
First off, the Constitution doesn't allow Congress to regulate the ingredients of a product like microwaveable popcorn. Well, it doesn't allow them to dictate how much water my toilet uses to flush, either, but when has the rule of law stopped Nanny government from taking control of something? The point is that the industry is now considering -- on its own -- reducing the exposure of its employees to diacetyl. At least two microwave popcorn makers (ConAgra Foods and Weaver Popcorn Co..) have said recently that they would stop using diacetyl entirely. Senator Edward Kennedy didn't have to make them do it.
When are we going to rein in the Nanny State? Such a bill should be killed in committee, because it's overreaching and unnecessary.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSWAT00816120070926
The House bill would require the Labor Department to develop interim standards, limiting diacetyl exposure by workers in flavor manufacturing plants and microwave popcorn factories. The interim standard would be in effect for up to two years while a final regulation is prepared.
Even though the Senate isn't considering a bill on this, the usual suspects want one.
"Too many workers exposed to diacetyl have become ill or even died," said Senator Edward Kennedy.
Well, exactly how many is that? How many people have come down with what is now referred to as "popcorn lung" due to this? Here (http://12.42.224.225/healthnews/healthday/070901HD607803.htm) you can read that only four cases of this particular type of bronchitis were identified among 102 former plant workers surveyed. Moreover, the precise cause of those four cases may not be the one chemical the Congress seeks to "regulate."
First off, the Constitution doesn't allow Congress to regulate the ingredients of a product like microwaveable popcorn. Well, it doesn't allow them to dictate how much water my toilet uses to flush, either, but when has the rule of law stopped Nanny government from taking control of something? The point is that the industry is now considering -- on its own -- reducing the exposure of its employees to diacetyl. At least two microwave popcorn makers (ConAgra Foods and Weaver Popcorn Co..) have said recently that they would stop using diacetyl entirely. Senator Edward Kennedy didn't have to make them do it.
When are we going to rein in the Nanny State? Such a bill should be killed in committee, because it's overreaching and unnecessary.
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