The federal government is proposing some sweeping new regulations that will affect how family farms operate in America. The Blaze has reported on these regulations over the last year. This week we covered the testimony by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis before the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, and Pensions.
The regulations and what Solis had to say did not sit well with Glenn Beck. He spent significant portion of his Thursday GBTV broadcast explaining his deep concerns. GlennBeck.com describes this as “one of his most passionate monologues since he began to broadcast on television.”
“I am so tired of these elites telling us what to do,” Glenn said.
“Because I saw hard work from my father, because I saw him have passion for what he did. Because I saw hard work from my grandfather. Because I saw people work themselves to death I happen to have good work ethic and I hope my kids learn it from me.”
The main focus of the new regulations proposed last year was on the operation of farm equipment. The DOT was trying to mandate that anyone operating a piece of mechanized farm equipment be subject to the same rules that apply to drivers of semi-tractor trailers. These changes would have essentially blocked all young people who work on family farms from operating even the smallest tractor or truck, unless those people would be able to pass the stringent tests and maintain the detailed logs that are required of truckers.
These rules would also open the door for the potential unionization of all farm workers in America. Even family farm workers.
During the comment period for the proposal, the outcry from the farming communities seemed to bring clarity to the situation. However, the DOT and Labor Departments continued churning in the background, writing new and different rules that would soon surface. In August the new rules were posted. They proposed barring anyone under the age of 16 from performing dangerous jobs, like driving tractors, handling pesticides and even branding cattle. A december 1st deadline for public comments was set and the public responded with more than 18,000 comments.
For more from the monologue, including two additional segments, click here.
