Virginia GOP Halts Bill To Stop Child Labor On Tobacco Farms

This is a new low, even for the GOP. Virginia's House Republicans voted to block restrictions on child labor, in the perilous tobacco industry.

It's true, these legislators have fought AGAINST laws protecting children from some very dangerous work. Last week, these Republicans in a House committee tabled (essentially defeating) a bill to put limits on the practice of protecting children from working in the tobacco farm industry.

A growing coalition is getting very vocal about the use of child workers on tobacco farms across Virginia. Virginia House Bill 1906 would have made it illegal for minors to work directly with tobacco plants or their dried leaves. The bill would have made an exception for children working, as part of a tradition, on family farms.

"One of the refrains we hear from kids who do this kind of work is, when they get the tobacco sickness, they say, 'I felt like I was going to die,'" said Reid Maki, Director of Social Responsibility and Fair Labor Standards Coordinator, Child Labor Coalition for National Consumers League.

"The overwhelming majority of children interviewed reported experiencing symptoms consistent with acute nicotine poisoning," said 49th District Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D).

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