The City-County Observer would like to announce it’s second “Mole Award†winner for 2013. Matthew Burkhart, son of Elizabeth and Robert Burkhart of Newburgh, Indiana, has spent the last several months organizing letters of support, petition signatures, and has been in contact with lawmakers in an effort to bring reform to Indiana child labor laws. Matthew, age 13, approached Indiana Senator Vaneta Becker after being turned down for a referee job at a local soccer club because he was too young under state law. Under legislation then, the only jobs children under the age of 14 were able to hold were positions as farmhands, paper boys and girls, and golf caddies. Due largely in part to his love for sports, Matthew lobbied the bill with state legislature to allow sports refereeing as one of these exempt job positions for children ages 12 and older.
Matthew’s bill grew to receive the support of friends, family, and the community, as well as State Senator Vaneta Becker who introduced the bill to the Senate. The measure passed the Senate with a unanimous vote and was then carried by State Representative Suzanne Crouch in the House and passed with a 92-4 vote. The Bill was approved by Governor Mike Pence and signed into law on April 9th, 2013 and became effective immediately thereafter. Senator Becker said of Matthew, “Matthew has been closely involved in the legislative process to turn his proposal into reality. It’s been a pleasure to work with him, and I hope to see many young Hoosiers take advantage of these new opportunities to get age-appropriate work experience and pursue their passions.â€
Chairman of the Board of the City-County Observer Ron Cosby said, “Matthew has proven that with strong will and perseverance anything can be achieved and in the process has inspired others his age. The “Mole Award†selection committee recognizes the impact of Matthew’s accomplishment and feels honored to have had State Senator Vaneta Becker graciously agree to present him the second “Mole Award†of 2013.†The first “Mole Award†winner for 2013 is Ben Trockman of Evansville, IN for the outstanding work he has done to encourage airlines to reform their policies in respect to improving accessibility for physically challenged people who wish to fly. The City-County Observer distinguished “Mole Award Winner’s Banquet†is tentatively scheduled for October of 2013. Last year approximately 250 distinguished guests were in attendance for the ceremony held at Casino Aztar. It is our wish that our readers will join us and our staff in congratulating Matthew Burkhart for encouraging state legislature to amend much needed change to the state’s child labor laws.
Great honor for a great kid.
This is another excellent selection. I’m actually looking for to the Mole Awards event this year. Thanks CCO and keep nominating local leaders like this!
This highlights the madness inherent in child labor laws with exceptions like “farmhand”… Anyone who has ever worked as a farmhand knows that kind of work is as difficult as most anything, except maybe for mining.
The only restrictions I’d support would be to restrict parents or guardians (OR GOVERNMENTS) from confiscating the earnings of underage laborers, or parents from charging room and board, etc. Why shouldn’t we seek to give young people the drive to work and succeed at something, to begin sowing the seeds of entrepreneurship at an early age?
I submit to all of you that if we repealed ALL child labor laws tomorrow, you still wouldn’t see a rush of kids to work in the mines or factories, nor would you see any rush by employers to employ them. This is legislation for a nonexistent problem.
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