Obama To Kids: You Don't Need To Work

In rural areas of the country, where farms flourish, it is tradition that kids get hired to work on the farms, from digging up rocks, to working in the fields or even cleaning out the animal barns.
Well, if Obama gets his way, that's not going to happen anymore.
From the Havre Daily News: Montana’s federal lawmakers said last week they are pleased that the U. S. Department of Labor has extended a comment period on some proposals that could have “unintended consequences” on family farms and ranches.
Department of Labor originally had set a Nov. 1 deadline for comments on the first major revision on child labor laws in agriculture operations in 40 years. Last week officials extended that deadline to Dec. 1.
Montana’s U. S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both Democrats, and U. S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, had called on Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to extend the comment period.
The revision would exclude children younger than 16 from being hired to perform many common tasks on farms and ranches, and children younger than 18 from some. The proposed regulations would still allow children to work on their own family farms.
“I'm pleased the Labor Department has extended the public comment period, and I hope Montana family farmers will get involved and share their comments and ideas, ” Baucus said this morning. “It's a busy time for our ag producers, and they deserve the time they need to review the proposed regulations which could have unintended and widespread consequences for Montana's family farms. The bottom line here is: Any regulation that impacts our rural families should be designed with their needs in mind. ”
The proposed regulations include prohibiting any children younger than 18 from working in storing, transporting or marketing of crops, including in grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions and no one younger than 16 in any action causing pain to an animal, such as branding, castration or vaccination.
It would prohibit children younger than 18 from using electronic devices, including cellphones, while operating machinery, and would limit the ability of children younger than 16 from using most power-driven equipment.
Shawn Rismon, who farms north of Havre with his wife, Stacey, and their three sons, Kade, 16, Nate, 14, and Mason, 9, said operating the farm without the children would be very difficult.
“They’re our main helpers, and they love to do it. It would make it tough, ” Shawn Rismon said. “They enjoy doing it, and having that extra help on the farm helps. ” http://www.havredailynews.com/news/story-281780.html
I realize a community organizer who never worked on a farm would have no clue about life on the farm, but apparently no one else in his cabinet has a clue either.
Another reason to say good bye to the family farm.