Bill Blotter: Mascots, Baby Feeding and Snack Foods

June 13, 2005 -- -- In this week's Bill Blotter, the "Redskin" mascot is considered offensive by some, as is public breast-feeding in Massachusetts, and Louisiana lawmakers address teen obesity by regulating junk food quantities in school vending machines.

The California Senate Education Committee passed a bill that would ban the use of the term "Redskin" in the state's public schools.

The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Jackie Goldberg, said at the hearing that the term is, for American Indians, equal to the most offensive and derogatory slurs for Asians and blacks.

The bill passed both houses of the state legislature last year but was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Opponents of the bill argue this should be handled at the local level -- in the communities where the mascot is a problem. Supporters argue local control is ineffective, that local passions are higher, and change is often extremely difficult.

The bill has passed the state Assembly and is headed now to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

State Rep. David Linsky has filed legislation in the Massachusetts State House that would give women the freedom to breast-feed in public places -- ensuring they would not be charged with such crimes as indecent exposure or face large fines. This is the third time Linsky has filed such a bill.

Advocates argue that women should be able to feed their babies -- who may need to feed 10 times a day for the first few months -- whenever the babies need to be fed. Even if it's in public.

While touting the bill to the state's Judiciary Committee, Linsky argued that discouraging breast-feeding might make embarrassed mothers more likely to feed their children with bottles, thus "depriving them of the benefit of breast-feeding."

Opponents think there should be language in the bill to make sure women show discretion when they breast-feed so the bill is not so broad that anyone can bare their breasts and other body parts in public.