Businesses should have known, followed federal law

I have to take issue with The Gazette’s Sunday, July 7 editorial addressing fines against restaurants for using child labor that goes against federal labor laws.

While I agree the main issue lies with the state, who purposely proposed the bill that became law that intentionally violates federal labor laws, I disagree that restaurant owners are blameless. Anyone who goes into business should know basic federal labor laws and rules regarding child labor, and that they override any state laws.

That Iowa and other states are deliberately proposing these bills and enacting these laws in the hope of getting it in front of the courts in order to water down federal labor laws on child labor, is appalling, to say the least. And it won’t help fix the labor shortage Iowa and other states currently face.

Fining small businesses wouldn’t have been necessary, had the state taken action to address the problematic law that forced the federal Department of Labor to warn the state what could happen if it chose to do nothing. This problem is on the state of Iowa and those Republicans who are currently in charge. But shame on the business owners who took the state’s word that they could abide by the state law, and not the overriding federal law. If said business owners are successful in reducing their fines, great. But they shouldn’t be let off the hook or simply given a slap on the wrist.

Lori Morris

Hiawatha