NJ Governor Christie vetoes ‘vegetarian’ school lunch bill

Kudos to New Jersey’s Chris Christie. He’s vetoed a bill that would have required “culturally sensitive” school cafeteria meal choices for students who have such needs, such as religious and/or vegetarian requirements.

How dare he!

But Christie’s veto is a perfect example of nixing a ridiculously onerous bill, despite the legislation’s good intentions.

In [the] veto message, he noted the bill would require districts to conduct “food surveys” of middle- and high-school students, and to form an advisory committee if any student indicates an “unmet food preference.”

“In light of the many challenges school districts already encounter in order to provide an education worthy of our children’s future, I cannot support the additional costs and burdens this bill would impose,” Christie said in the statement.

He said parents or students unhappy with cafeteria food could “raise their concerns to the local board of education or elected officials.”

How about that — dealing with such matters at a local level instead of mandating a “one size fits all” scheme.

The bill was passed overwhelmingly by the State Assembly and Senate. If the numbers hold up a veto override could be possible.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden), who led the way with the bill, had related that “one of her friend’s daughters had faced ridicule in her school lunch line when asking for vegan meals.”

“We are seeing more and more students who are growing up vegan or vegetarian,” Lampitt said in a past interview. “We are just asking schools to look at the menus and how to adapt them for these children.”

Lampitt’s full-time job is overseeing food service operations at the University of Pennsylvania.

A couple thoughts here:

1) Whatever happened to packing your kid’s lunch — most especially if he/she has certain needs or preferences?
2) Lampitt’s last sentence above basically makes Christie’s point about dealing with it locally.

The Garden State governor emphasized that he “wasn’t against the intent, just the means”:

“While school districts should endeavor to provide nutritious meal options that their students prefer, the bill would unnecessarily burden hundreds of school districts in New Jersey. The burden includes the creation, distribution, and review of food surveys to every student enrolled in a middle school or high school and the formation of an eleven-member food advisory committee if even one student in the entire district expresses any displeasure.”