"More Gruel, Sir?" Missouri says "Get Back To Work!"

SB 222 – This act modifies the child labor laws. It eliminates the prohibition on employment of children under age fourteen. Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed. It also repeals the requirement that a child ages fourteen or fifteen obtain a work certificate or work permit in order to be employed. Children under sixteen will also be allowed to work in any capacity in a motel, resort or hotel where sleeping accommodations are furnished. It also removes the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ. It also repeals the presumption that the presence of a child in a workplace is evidence of employment.

Hey kids! Don't let your folks EVER take you to Kansas City! You might wind up in a workhouse courtesy of the State of Missouri!

Seriously, the most ridiculous piece of work (plus her proposed legislation) has taken the State of Missouri by storm. She is State Senator Jane Cunningham. Giving the bizarre reason of "nanny state," she has proposed abolishing most of the state's child labor laws.

You read that right.

Read that statement again. If you still don't think it's right, just read HERE and HERE.

Her reasons?

The current restrictions, Cunningham says, imply “that government can make a better decision than a parent.” Also, Cunningham, who is no fan of public schools, dislikes the provision in state law that says students younger than 16 must obtain signed permission from their school before taking a job.

Naturally, Cunningham is an ardent advocate of home-schooling. 

And parents whose poverty may push them to send their kids into virtual slavery or simply rotten parents (there are some) will love her. 

We'll try to keep up with this bizarre piece of legislation. Until then, pass the gruel.