FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 18, 2012 CONTACT: NICK WILOCK, 518-878-6568 FOLLOW ASSEMBLYMAN MCLAUGHLIN ON FACEBOOK

McLAUGHLIN SLAMS FEDERAL ASSAULT ON AGRICULTURE

Dept. of Labor considering ban on teenage farm workers Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R,C-Melrose) recently expressed his opposition to the federal governments effort to pile more regulations on the agricultural industry. The U.S. Department of Labor is considering a ban on 14 and 15-year-olds completing basic tasks like driving tractors and using other simple machinery. McLaughlin decried the departments attempt to over-regulate the farming industry and urged federal lawmakers to block the proposal. This proposal will continue the federal assault on agriculture and make it even harder for our family farms to continue serving as the backbone of our local economy, said McLaughlin. Federal bureaucrats cannot see the importance these farms hold from the top of their ivory towers, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to block any attempt by the Department of Labor to further over-regulate agriculture. Prohibiting young people from performing standard agricultural procedures will not only hurt farmers ability to cultivate their products, but will erode the beloved tradition of farming in New York, McLaughlin noted. Agriculture and farming are a way of life in our community, and families have the right to pass those traditions down from generation to generation, said McLaughlin. Outof-touch political appointees shouldnt tell us how to run our family businesses or raise our children. Assemblyman McLaughlin represents the 108th district, which consists of parts of Rensselaer, Albany, Greene, and Columbia counties. For more information, please visit Assemblyman McLaughlins official website. ###