A
project put forth by a group of fourth graders from Timothy Dwight School in
Fairfield has made its way to the state Capitol.
They
are lobbying for lollipops to become Connecticut’s official state candy.
Wednesday,
the bill cleared the legislature’s Government Elections and Administration Committee.
"It
sprung out of learning about the General Assembly, state government here in
Connecticut and how a bill comes from an idea,” says teacher Joan Robb.
"Lollipops
were invented in Connecticut. We are one of the only states without an official
state food, and everyone likes a lollipop,” student Jacqueline Glick said Friday to
lawmakers.
"Maybe
it's not everybody's favorite candy, but nobody hates it,” said student Amelia
Neubauer.
The bill
now heads to the Connecticut House of Representatives, where the clock is
ticking for passage.
Whatever
its fate – the students got a grown-up lesson in politics.
Several
years ago, Robb attempted to get Pez – also invented in Connecticut – to be the
official state candy, but lawmakers didn’t want to endorse a brand name.