Maine's GOP Governor Pushing To Loosen Child Labor Laws...Says Kids Need To Learn Life Skills

[Cali_Democrat]

Paul LePage Pushing To Loosen Maine's Child Labor Laws In 2014
By Amanda Terkel
Posted: 12/02/2013 5:59 pm EST

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) will continue his push to loosen the state's child labor laws in the new year, arguing that 12-year-old children should not be restricted from working and learning life skills.

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As the Bangor Daily News notes, "The initiative falls short of LePage’s stated desire to lower the legal working age to 12, but reprises previous unsuccessful attempts to make it easier for Mainers younger than 16 to earn a paycheck."

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LePage has long supported policies allowing younger children to work.

"I went to work at 11 years old," he said at a town hall meeting in 2011. "I became governor. It's not a big deal. Work doesn't hurt anybody."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/child-labor-laws_n_4374014.html

[muntrv]

1. That's what school is for you dickwad! Then again, you don't need no edumication!

[Scuba]

2. Putting his mandate to use.

[hrmjustin]

3. Can't wait to see him leave office.

[MADem]

4. That man is batshit crazy, ya know....

Kids still work the (potato) harvest in "The County," but even at that, the participation levels have dropped with automation--and it's only for a week or two. They actually have a school vacation to accommodate kids working on their family farms.

That said, it's not "child labor" per se--it's a community experience to ensure the harvesting of the region's most significant cash crop.

I want to see that loony tune tossed out on his ass. He is just so BAD for Maine. Awful, cretinous human being.

[FarCenter]

6. Grew up on a farm -- first drove a tractor when I was 6.

Farm kids were expected to help.

[MADem]

7. Sure, family farming is one thing; that governor, though, is batshit crazy. nt

[eShirl]

5. Au contraire, Gov. LePew.

That you were damaged is obvious to all.

[0rganism]

8. how long until he's replaced?

Can't be soon enough. Maine Dems better not fuck this one up.

[Vashta Nerada]

9. What a POS.

[Archae]

10. Is he up for re-election in 2014?

I hope he loses his ass.