Leaders from Montgomery County and the District of Columbia on Thursday morning spoke out in favor of pending legislation that would force chain restaurants to post nutritional information on their menus.

Although both jurisdictions are considering similar bills, Montgomery County’s seems much more likely to pass into law.

Montgomery County Council member George Leventhal, who introduced the Montgomery bill this week, said at the briefing that, given the progressive county’s success in passing a transfat ban in May, “the prospects are good.”

In Montgomery, a public hearing has been scheduled for the nutritional listing legislation. In contrast, D.C. At-Large Council member Phil Mendelson premiered his version of the bill in March, and a public hearing has yet to be scheduled. His spring bill introduction actually marks the third year that Mendelson has tried to get such legislation through the council.

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Both leaders’ proposals call for eateries that are part of chains with 10 or more national locations offering the same menu to post calorie, fat and sodium gram counts for all menu items offered.

Mendelson pointed out that this type of information is, in some cases, available on restaurants’ Web sites.

“But most people don’t bring their computers and are not Web accessible when they’re in line trying to order food,” he said.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com