The Department of Labor today announced that it is withdrawing the proposed farm youth labor regulations that have raised such a tremendous uproar over the past few months.
It will instead work with 4-H, Farm Bureau, the National Farmers Union and FFA to develop a safety education program to reduce farm accidents.
This is great news indeed. It is thanks to the thousands of farmers, folks who understand the value of farm families, and some legislators, including Senators Grassley, Thune and a number of others who wrote, called, made posters and worked very hard indeed, that this decision was made.
Now excuse me for a minute while I do a happy dance. (HT Ray Bowman on FB)
From the Dept. of Labor: "The decision to withdraw this rule – including provisions to define the 'parental exemption' – was made in response to thousands of comments expressing concerns about the effect of the proposed rules on small family-owned farms. To be clear, this regulation will not be pursued for the duration of the Obama administration."
I'd say someone has their head screwed on straight, but if they had this would have never been an issue.
ReplyDeleteJoated beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteStill, it's pretty scary that a law like this was being considered.
ReplyDeleteBig Government bureaucrats micro-managing every aspect of your lives.
From light bulbs to where your children may work.
YEA!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Why do I get the idea that this is an idea that will rest quietly for awhile and come back again? Yes, color me cynical.
ReplyDeleteJoated, you are sure right about that. And I think the sheer volume of the uproar scared them. There were a number of senators who were pushing legislation to stop the regulations from taking effect if all the hollering on the Internet and letters didn't do the job. People were really ticked off
ReplyDeleteRev. Paul, alas I fear that Jan is right and this will be back in some other form.
Cathy, oh, man, don't get me started on light bulbs. We used compact florescent bulbs in the barn as part of a sort of a study a long time ago. I supposed the did save energy but they were awful for light and did not last long as expected because a barn is not a living room. Coils got dirty. They had to get used to freezing and thawing. Didn't work out well.
Linda, ditto!
Jan, sadly there is no doubt at all that you are right. Now that they have us thinking that they have the power to step into our lives like that they are going to be doing it some way somehow.
i posted stuff ranting about this on my facebook page regularly, and my friends were confused 'cause i live in chicago. "why are you still babbling about farms?" so glad to hear this!
ReplyDeletei can't remember where the quote is from - maybe harry potter? - but sadly, "ETERNAL VIGILANCE!" is very necessary these days, what with our whackadoodle politicians.
Ericka, you betcha! I am working on that for my farm column this week. This issue will be back, in some other form. Like the 400000 SCC for dairy farms. If they can't get it one way they will find another.
ReplyDelete