First a confession: A Diet Coke and chocolate chip cookie were consumed during the writing of this report. So when Lake Oswego teacher Joel Glick spoke Friday of his occasional craving for a Cherry Coke or sugary non-diet Sprite, that seemed fair enough.

But does he have the right to buy that can of soda at school?

He thinks so. As did other teachers who came before the House Education Committee on Friday seeking changes to a 2007 law restricting the sale of soda, fruit juices and high-calorie snack foods in schools. It turns out that the law, intended to combat an obesity epidemic among Oregon's children, had the unintended consequence of pulling the plug on vending machines inside teacher lounges.

Teachers--and students--are still permitted to bring junk food to school in their lunch boxes. But last September it became illegal to buy high-fat, high-sugar or otherwise high-calorie snacks anywhere on campus--including teachers' break rooms.