By AP/KWMU
River Grove, Ill. – Illinois' Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich joined the top Republican in the state House, Tom Cross, on Thursday to push for a ban on soda and junk food from school vending machines.
The governor says it's an effort to stave off child obesity, which is on the rise.
"We are going to stop sending you kid mixed messages," Blagojevich told students in the Chicago suburbs Thursday, "by teaching you about nutrition in our schools and then giving you the chance to buy things like soda and candy and all kinds of junk food only a few feet away."
If it becomes law, the treats would be banned as of January 1, 2005. The measure is just one of a number meant to address children's health and fitness. Other proposals include creating a fund to be used for juvenile diabetes research and establishing nutrition awareness hotlines.