The legislature is happy to make work for taxpayers even if there's no evidence that it does anybody any good. That's the only conclusion supported by the overwhelming passage of the menu and calorie bill.

Starting in 2011, House 2726 requires that restaurant chains post the calorie counts of their meals on menus and menu boards.

Some, like McDonald's, already put their calories on the back side of the paper place mats. Putting them on the menu boards, though, will involve some expense and additional work.

The majority in the Capitol thinks this will cause people to recoil at the milkshakes and triple bacon burgers they were about to order. Then they will change their minds and ask for a side salad instead.

Legislators who think that way are kidding only themselves. People already know they are eating too many calories for what their bodies need, and they don't care. Posted counts won't change what they do.

Is there evidence that this bill reduces obesity in the general population anywhere that similar laws have been passed? Lacking such evidence, all the majority has done is to vote - again - to increase business expense. (hh)