For MASSPTA

Under pressure to enact a multi-billion-dollar bill of farm supports, the Senate late on Thursday evening dropped a series of amendments that had been proposed to the bill, including a proposal to limit the food that can be sold in schools. The amendment would have banned certain high-sugar, high-fat drinks and snacks from vending machines and a la carte cafeteria lines in schools. The amendment's major sponsor, Senator Harkin (D-IA), while conceding the need to drop the amendment in order to facilitate passage of the farm bill, vowed to bring the subject of school food up again in the new session of Congress that will convene in January.