.

When our babies were fresh and still wrinkled, Bubba would get up for the 4:00 a.m. feeding and tell them, “Hell, kid, if you’re gonna get up this early anyway, I think you ought to get a paper route and hold up your end around here.”

He was kidding. Republican Missouri State Sen. Jane Cunningham is not. She, in fact, has the answer to education cuts! Put the little stinkers to work.

I could find all kinds of colorful words and descriptions to show just how crazed and outrageous is S.B. 222.

But let’s just use the official summary of the bill from the Missouri state Senate website and if you don’t believe me, click here and read it yourself.

• This act modifies the child labor laws.
• It eliminates the prohibition on employment of children under age fourteen.
• Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed.
• It also repeals the requirement that a child ages fourteen or fifteen obtain a work certificate or work permit in order to be employed.
• Children under sixteen will also be allowed to work in any capacity in a motel, resort or hotel where sleeping accommodations are furnished.
• It also removes the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ.

Nope, not kidding.

Here’s a picture of Jane Cunningham just in case you’re ever in Missouri and want to see what wild butt crazy looks like.

I hear she’s even got a tee-shirt that says “Sweat Shops are Fun!” but I can’t swear to that.  I just suspect it.