"Is plastic okay?"
The question about grocery bags is heard by shoppers at checkout lines and now is being considered by state lawmakers.
Plastic bags largely have replaced paper sacks because plastic is less expensive. That's why the pro-plastic question has replaced the more neutral option: "Paper or plastic?"
For the environmentally conscious, the preferred option is the reusable cloth bag, but not every shopper uses them or remembers to bring them.
Environmental stewardship has motivated successful efforts to ban plastic bags in a number of U.S. cities. Currently, Columbia officials are considering a ban on plastic bags or imposition of a 10-cent charge.
The city's action has prompted state Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, to propose a state law that would prohibit cities and towns from banning plastic bags.
His proposal has raised issues both personal and public.
Shaul also is state director of the Missouri Grocers Association, which has generated conflict-of-interest questions.
The lawmaker rejects the conflict allegation. "It doesn't affect the organization, it affects the consumer, it affects the industry," he said. "I mean sure, it could be a conflict if you want it to be. I don't think it is."
Richard Reuben, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Law, said while the proposal may not constitute a conflict, legally, "from a standpoint of public perception it makes him look pretty bad."
The more wide-ranging issue is one lawmakers have faced before - is statewide consistency or local control preferable?
We lean toward local control, although we acknowledge exceptions.
We don't believe plastic bags are an exception.
The concept of federalism, outlined in the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment, reserves for the states the powers not delegated to the federal government. Similarly, we favor authorizing cities to enact laws that are not in conflict with the state.
We see no compelling reason for a state law on the grocery bag issue.
Reject the state proposal and allow Columbia, and other cities, to decide for themselves whether plastic is okay.