Iowa Senate Republicans Pass Cruel Child Labor Bill At 5:00 AM

If you think 'both sides are the same,' here is yet another example of that being false. Just before 5:00 am on Tuesday morning, the Iowa Senate passed a child labor bill that "allows 14-year-olds to work six-hour night shifts" and "allows 15-year-olds to work in plants on assembly lines." Only two Republicans voted against it. Every single Democrat joined the two Republicans to vote against the cruel bill. The bill passed by a margin of 32 to 17.

Who13 reports:

The bill allows 14-year-olds to work six-hour night shifts, allows 15-year-olds to work in plants on assembly lines moving items up to 50 pounds, and allows 16 and 17-year-olds to serve alcohol.

Many Democrats say this can be dangerous for kids by putting them in risky jobs. Republicans argue that’s not true and that it’s just giving them more opportunities to earn money.

“I wouldn’t want my granddaughter serving alcohol or getting an exception to do hazardous work in the name of workplace learning. A workplace accident can happen in the blink of an eye. It takes mere seconds for a red iron beam to fall. Iowans should not be putting our kids, and they are kids, in dangerous situations,” said Sen. Janice Weiner (D) of Johnston.

Sen. Adrian Dickey (R) disagrees.

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