Maine Gov. Paul LePage wants to see more child labor in Maine.

"I went to work at 11 years old," said LePage at a townhall meeting. "I became governor. It's not a big deal. Work doesn't hurt anybody."

The current law protects minors (ages 16 and older) by requiring they work no more than four hours a day on a school day, and only during hours when school is not in session. One of the proposed bills (LD1346) would eliminate this maximum limit. Another bill  (LD516) will extend hours minors can work each week.

In addition to removing hourly limits, the LD1346 lowers the minimum wage for child workers. The current minimum wage in Maine is $7.50 an hour for all workers, regardless of age. Under the new legislation, it would be legal for employers to pay anyone under the age of 20 as little as $5.25 an hour for their first 180 days on the job.

Update 5/10/2011: We scored a success last week, when LD1346 was killed by a unanimous vote in the labor committee. But the other bill - LD516 - continues to move toward passage. The Maine state Senate passed the bill, and it now awaits a vote in the House. This bill would permit teenagers to work until 11pm on school nights -- an hour later than current law allows, and increase the maximum number of hours they can work each week to 24 hours.

This bill is bad for families. It's bad for children. And it's bad for Maine's economy. Let's set Paul LePage straight. There should be no turning back the clock on child labor in this country.