Tampabay.com
MARCH 12, 2008

More on plumbers, cracks, droopy drawers

Leave it to the Legislature to debate at length a bill that seems straightforward enough: Ban public school students from wearing their pants below the waist, exposing underwear or G-strings or perhaps even more.

Orlando Sen. Gary Siplin brought the bill to the Senate floor this morning, and the debate covered everything from whether plumbers should be exempt - to whether the ban would unfairly discriminate against poor rural students who are underfed and can't afford clothes that fit.

That's not a typo. You read correctly.

Sen. Dave Aronberg and Sen. Cary Baker tried to amend Sen. Gary Siplin's baggy pants bill, to make an exception for students studying plumbing.

"For some, it's a sign of quality -- a good housekeeping seal of approval. For some others it's a sign of a job well done," Aronberg said. "This only opens the door just a little crack."

Sen. Baker added that for plumbers, tightly-worn pants is a health issue that can lead to, "gastro-intestinal distress, hypertension and even stroke."

Sen. Burt Saunders asked Sen. Aronberg to "demonstrate" just how far the amendment goes. But Sen. Aronberg declined, saying "it's an election year." Then Sen. Aronberg withdrew his amendment.

The final vote hasn't happened yet, stay tuned.

-- Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler and Jenny Liberto

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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