Dear John,

I’m annoyed with a recent editorial from The New York Times that opposes the expansion of opportunities for youth employment and work-based learning programs in states like Iowa. 

The New York Times makes the argument that any loosening of regulations is a first step towards abuse. Their solution is more government regulation, not less. 

However, excessive regulations can limit opportunities and stifle innovation. As advocates for reigniting the American Dream, we believe in the power of individual freedom and the importance of personal responsibility instead of more government.

The Iowa legislation in question opens up a wide array of work-based learning opportunities for students, expands work hours until 9:00 pm instead of 7:00 pm, gives students more freedom to drive to and from work, permits an employee at a grocery store to enter a freezer to find a product, and it gives a green light to cleaning. 

These are commonsense changes that will provide valuable opportunities for young people to develop important life skills and gain work experience.

The New York Times editorial board's restrictive, regulatory position would instead, for example, prevent the teen of a single parent from getting a job at a local retailer because they’d have to drive themselves to/from work while their solo parent was at his/her job.

The New York Times' false characterization of this legislation cannot go un-answered. This is not just about whether teenagers will be allowed to learn life skills, a work ethic, and character in action—it goes to the root of whether America will be a nanny-state or a land of opportunity.

America was built on the idea that anything is possible with hard work and a dream. 

For too long, the national conversation has focused on top-down policies that have made things worse for American families. So of course, the powers-that-be will respond aggressively to our work. 

We will not stop our mission to empower people to make more of their own decisions to improve their lives and their communities.

We will keep watching this legislation in Iowa and hold The New York Times and any other news outlet accountable to the reality of the commonsense changes at stake here to enable young people to develop important life skills.

Best,

- Akash

Akash Chougule

Vice President of Government Affairs
Americans for Prosperity