In the News

WASHINGTON — Nearly a month after expressing concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) inspections of family farms, the Department of Labor announced Tuesday that the controversial guidance that allowed for this practice was revoked.

In a letter addressed to the House Education and the Workforce Committee, the DOL said it has worked with OSHA to explain the end of the guidance and will will also work with the Department of Agriculture to find a more suitable solution.

The Labor Department is quashing controversial family farm regulations after coming under pressure from Republican lawmakers.

Officials at the department assured House Republicans they have "prohibited" the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from taking enforcement actions against small farms that are exempted from the agency's regulations.

A House Republican on Tuesday accused the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of skirting Congress to regulate family farms.

"Time and again, the administration has made end-runs around Congress and the American people to serve its own political interests," Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said during a workforce protections subcommittee hearing that he led as chairman.

Since the 1970s, Congress has prohibited OSHA from enforcement actions at farms with 10 or fewer employees.

Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) recently met with the editorial board of Heritage Media-West to discuss developments in Washington and issues important to his constituents.

The Budget

For the first time in several years both houses of Congress have passed a budget and President Obama has signed it. While the budget increased spending now and spread cuts over 10 years, Walberg was happy it got done at all.

"It's a budget, that's the first thing," Walberg said. "It's the responsibility of Congress to pass a budget."

DEXTER — Julie Boonstra reached out to as many people as she could last month, after her private health insurance plan expired under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Washington — Josie Maisano is a laid-off St. Clair Shores resident hoping Congress restores emergency unemployment benefits to alleviate her fear of becoming homeless.

Julie Boonstra is a Dexter leukemia patient who is frustrated her insurance policy was canceled because of the Affordable Care Act.

Tim Walberg (R), the U.S. Congressman representing Michigan's 7th Congressional District, visited the Lincoln Language Learning Center and Early Childhood Center and the Fremont Street Early Education Center on Tuesday. Branch Intermediate School District has operated Head Start since 1966 and Early Head Start since 2010.

Roughly 275 Branch County children, ranging in age from three to five-years-old, are enrolled in the five locations throughout Branch County. An additional 122 4-year-olds are enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Program, a state-funded program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — For nearly four decades, farmers with fewer than 10 employees have been exempt from having the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) inspect their farms for post-harvest activities.

However, A guidance issued by President Barack Obama in June 2011 redefined farming operations has allowed OSHA to have the right to inspect family farms. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) raised concerns with the guidance.