Iowa Backs Child Labor and Illinois Ends Book Bans
Americans Can't Name Famous Asian Americans, More C. Thomas Bribes, Elon Spikes Free Speech, Black Drivers Targeted for Loud Music, Marvin Gaye Sings
A Tale of Two States: One Exploits Children, the Other Protects Them
Iowa lawmakers pass legislation to roll back child labor protections (CNN)
SUMMARY: The Iowa legislature has passed a Republican-led bill that would roll back child labor protections, including the hours teens are allowed to work and the establishments where they can be employed.
If signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds – who has expressed support for the measure – the bill would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work two additional hours per day when school is in session, from four to six hours. They would also be able to work until 9 p.m. during most of the year and until 11 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day, two hours later than previously allowed. The bill would also allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work the same hours as an adult.
Supporters say the relaxed laws would provide greater job opportunities for teens, though opponents have raised concerns that certain occupations permitted under the bill could place children in harm’s way and take their focus away from school and extracurricular activities. The legislation is one of several youth employment bills across the country aiming to relax child labor protections.
MY TAKE: Why are Republicans from so many states so intent on removing safeguards for child labor? Because child labor is cheaper. Businesses will save money by paying less for labor and states will pay less by having an excuse not to offer reasonable social services to low-income families. The GOP logic is that it’s okay for 16-year-olds to serve alcohol, but not to read books about civil rights or LGBTQ+ issues.
According to The Guardian, “Backed by big business and lobby groups, politicians nationwide are pushing attempts to expand work hours for minors, expand the industries minors are permitted to work in, reduce enforcement and legislate sub-minimum wages for minors. These rollbacks at the federal and state levels are being proposed even as child labor violations have soared in recent years.”
Child labor abuses are rampant in the U.S., with ten states already reducing child labor laws. This week, two ten-year-olds were among the 300 children found to be working illegally at McDonald’s restaurants (“McDonald’s franchisee fined for illegally using workers as young as 10.”) Congress is currently considering a bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in certain mechanized operations in the logging industry under parental supervision (“‘Dumb and dangerous’: US sees surge in efforts to weaken child labor regulations.”) The logging industry has the highest workplace fatality rate in the country.
But I’m sure the kids will be fine. Right?
Illinois set to become first state to end book bans (Politico)
SUMMARY: Illinois is poised to become the first state to punish public institutions that ban books.
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has said he supports a House bill that would withhold state funding from any of the state’s 1,600 public or school libraries that remove books from their shelves. It passed in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday, and Pritzker is expected to sign the legislation.
“In Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it and lead with it,” the governor said when the bill was first presented. “Banning books is a devastating attempt to erase our history and the authentic stories of many.”
MY TAKE: What a joyous contrast to Iowa to see a state actually protecting children. Allowing access to ideas, knowledge, and dissenting opinions is what gives us the ability to improve our lives and our country. I’m so used to seeing states passing laws to curtail education that I actually had to read the article twice to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood it.