Montana bill would exempt some seasonal outdoor jobs from minimum wage, overtime laws

[TexasTowelie]

HELENA – Some seasonal outdoor workers like rafting guides or horse tour leaders might see a drop in pay if the proposal of a Laurel legislator is supported by the Montana Senate as it was in the House.

House Bill 496 would exempt employees of “seasonal outdoor recreation providers” from minimum wage and overtime laws. It passed the House last week on a 55-44 vote, with four Republicans joining Democrats in opposition.

Republican sponsor Rep. Vince Ricci said those rules don’t make sense for some temporary jobs where businesses have to provide training to unskilled, often young, employees.

“This is not intended to do away with minimum wage,” Ricci told the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee during a Friday hearing. “You value your employees and are not going to try to bring harm to them by reducing their wages.”

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/government-and-politics/bill-would-exempt-some-seasonal-outdoor-jobs-from-minimum-wage/article_c8acc989-f963-54c7-a7df-6bbe356c9d90.html

[2naSalit]

1. That will backfire almost immediately if passed...

I don't think Bullock would sign it anyway but there is a shortage of seasonal workers for the private sector because they are already tired of getting screwed by employers. In the tourist town I just left last year, the restaurant and hoteliers were screaming for workers, and they had a hard time getting and keeping them because of no housing availability and cheap-assed pay. And it will happen again this year. The J1s have figured it out and don't go there anymore, or not enough of them and the locals who had been consistent for years have moved on like I did.

And many of the business owners are cheato voters so let them squirm.