Omnibus Spending Bill Broadens Anti-Obesity Plan

(Washington) Just great! Another expansion of government control has been blessed. The nanny-state program against childhood obesity now includes everyone under the age of 18. Previously, it covered kids under 12.

Besides funding government agencies and a number of pork-barrel projects, the bill signed by President Barack Obama today calls for several government studies, including one examining whether the government should set standards for determining which foods are healthy and appropriate to market to youths as old as 17.

Late Tuesday, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., one of the study's sponsors, inserted a statement in the Congressional Record indicating that the under-17 language should be considered a mistake. "I think it would be more appropriate to limit the scope ... to children under 12," he said.

The legislation, though, still has original language.

Another day and another expansion of government power. Tick, tock, my friends. Soon we may have nothing left to lose.