Child Labor Laws Moving Quickly Without Our Knowing

The second season of Politics & Prose is straight fire! Interview after interview of our guests have been eye opening. We are starting June off with a bang. Why? We learned after reading an article from the AP (Associated Press) about how some states are relaxing Child Labor Laws. Gail is connecting with Ohio State Representative Lauren McNally to get to the bottom of why this law is moving quickly in Ohio without anyone knowing about it. 

The direct quote from AP News by HARM VENHUIZEN released on May 25, 2023 is as follows, 

“Lawmakers in several states are embracing legislation to let children work in more hazardous occupations, for more hours on school nights and in expanded roles, including serving alcohol in bars and restaurants as young as 14. 

The efforts to significantly roll back labor rules are largely led by Republican lawmakers to address worker shortages and, in some cases, run afoul of federal regulations. 

Lawmakers proposed loosening child labor laws in at least 10 states over the past two years, according to a report published last month by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Some bills became law, while others were withdrawn or vetoed. 

Legislators in Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa are actively considering relaxing child labor laws to address worker shortages, which are driving up wages and contributing to inflation. Employers have struggled to fill open positions after a spike in retirements, deaths and illnesses from COVID-19, decreases in legal immigration and other factors. 

In Wisconsin, lawmakers are backing a proposal to allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. If it passed, Wisconsin would have the lowest such limit nationwide, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 

The Ohio Legislature is on track to pass a bill allowing students ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. during the school year with their parents’ permission. That’s later than federal law allows, so a companion measure asks the U.S. Congress to amend its own laws.” [https://apnews.com/article/child-labor-laws-alabama-ohio-c1123a80970518676be44088619c6205?user_email=6bd72e8c45f99807b140b3dda2ca06a35ddb2caf316ea55d470192b5cadb2807&utm_medium=Morning_Wire&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_campaign=MorningWire_May25_2023&utm_te