Her name is State Rep. Ebony Woodruff (D-Terrytown). Just like Michelle Obama, she wants everyone in Louisiana to eat better. Just like Michelle, she’s willing to use the force of government to make sure you do.

She has filed HB 811 which would raise taxes on sugar sweetened drinks. She wants to tax your Coke because she believes that it causes obesity, diabetes, and all sorts of calamities. But the research shows that sodas are not the main cause of obesity.

Like Michelle Obama, Woodruff is a big advocate of “fresh, local food.” She has filed some bills in this session to promote this pet cause of hers.

• HB 547 would provide tax credits for businesses that sell “fresh food” in a “food desert.” An article on the American Thinker from 2011 shows programs like this usually turn into rackets for the “organic” food industry and NGOs. These places would come in to these poor neighborhoods and sell high-priced food to people who generally need cheaper food choices.
• HB 730 would create the Louisiana Farm to School Act. This bill would require that a database be built containing the information of Louisiana farmers interested in providing “local food” to school districts. Thankfully, the bill does not actually require schools to participate in this program where they would have to buy the smaller quantities of food and pay premium prices for it. While Louisiana’s small farmers and foodies might like it, it will likely cost local school districts more money.
• HB 761 would establish “urban agriculture incentive zones.” Urban agriculture is simply where hipsters grow gardens and sometimes raise chickens in urban areas. Most of these projects tend to be commercial failures, but many foodies and environmentalists like them. This is despite the fact that urban agriculture has made the housing crisis worse in some cities.

Unfortunately for foodies and nanny statists, but thankfully for average Louisianians none of these bills have a chance this session. The soda tax bill hasn’t even been scheduled for a hearing and the rest are being heard so late in session that they have no chance of passing before the clock runs out in June.