Finally! Lawmakers in PA will hold a hearing on Wednesday to address child labor laws and reality show children. We hope to see good laws come out of this.
On the roster to testify:
Aunt Jodi
Uncle Kevin
Paul Petersen of A Minor Consideration
Robert Kuzynski from Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
We thank Aunt Jodi and Uncle Kevin for their bravery despite the backlash. When something is wrong, speak out.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/entertainment/television/041110-lawmaker-calls-gosselin-kin-to-hearing
58 sediments (sic) from readers:
Why do you think TLC is foing to be offering the Kate plus 8 hostages, during the summertime? That way, the kids are out of school, TLC and Kate can skirt the child labor laws that will probably go into effect in PA, get away from the investigation and film the family out of state. Two weeks again in Bald Head Island, Korea, Mexico, Canada, Florida, Grand Canyon. They can still film them out of state. Only thing is, Jon has to approve.
Please, keep us updated!
Thank gosh
At least they are speaking out. The good fight is always the hard fight. I understand Kate has a powerhouse behind her. But, these are children's lives hanging in the balance. If she wants a career find. It should not be on the backs of her children.
I thank them for trying. I am going to write a few letters of support.
Yes, Kelly this slimy company TLC & Kate will do all they can to skirt around. But, Jon is their father regardless.
Justice for the 8 children & other children in reality programming.
Thank heavens something is at least happening on this matter, instead of the continued "blind eye" being turned.
Gee, I wonder why Kaydar does not have the story posted yet?
This time TLC will be up against the State of PA, not just some piddly little individual. Maybe this is the beginning of TLC's karma.
The most interesting thing about this latest event is that it provides some sort of gauge with which to measure just how arrogant and out-of-touch TLC has become. That they would so arrogantly and triumphantly announce that the children would be filmed again. That they would even think this was a great idea.
Someone earlier asked if they thought Kevin and Jodi knew they had some public support. I absolutely do think they do know this. And I've been hoping all along that Jon would get a lawyer who had a good sense of how this whole thing has been "playing in Peoria"...and could advise Jon regarding his behavior and how critical it was that he be perceived in the right light.
I don't think this hearing is happening in a vacuum. I'd have to believe that there are many individuals who have, behind the scenes, complained and written letters, including child advocates, professionals who work with children, etc.....and questioned the results of the Pa. labor investigation.
Ratings and advertising dollars in TV land are one thing. Dealing with the real world is another. Mr. Heen went too far when he abused the criminal justice system (the police, in this case) in his quest for a reality show on TV. Being invincible in TV land does not make one invincible in the real world. For some reason, Kate and TLC have seemed coated in teflon...but even teflon wears out eventually. And there can be a huge downside to capturing the attention of millions of people....who can bring pressure to bear on politicians, etc.
Whenever one becomes so convinced of their own power and invincibility...they eventually go too far. It's just a matter of time. It seems to be the nature of the beast.
Coming out of lurkdon to say:
Finally!
And, also TLC & Kate feel they are just taking the kids on Field trips, letting them play, etc. This will be interesting. Most of these hearings include both sides of the story.
Will we get details of this hearing? How does that work?
I am relieved that they are trying something. I am sure TLC knew this in advance. This really is the perfect storm here. I wonder how TLC will spin this.
It was just yesterday that I was thinking that the State of PA sure did drop the ball when it came to the Gosselin 8 ... and then this morning I heard this news. Thank goodness!
At least something is happening and even if this is just a start, it is at least movement from the authorities in the right direction.
How are these things "field trips" and "letting the kids play" when you have producers asking the children to do things over and over for camera shots?
At least there were some neighbors who substantiated this, because I'm sure any digital evidence of repeated "scenes" are long gone.
I wonder if Nancy Grace will have an entire program devoted to this 'breaking news' tonight. She fiercely defends Kate, but she's also against the exploitation of children, so I'm curious to see how she and her devoted legal pals are going to spin this one if she reports on it.
It would be interesting to see if she can talk out of both sides of her mouth at once.
Thank gawd! Kevin and Jodi have been fighting the good fight for so long.
This news really made my day!
Thank gawd! Kevin and Jodi have been fighting the good fight for soooo long, hopefully now things will change!
This news really made my day!
Sorry about that, my first post never showed up...until after I re-posted.
Hehe...oh AuntieAnn, you just made me chuckle.
You are so right....Nancy Grace prides herself on being a child advocate and being against any sort of exploitation of children.
I haven't watched her show in ages because I could not stand her histrionics and how she constantly interrupted her guests...and was so rude to them...but I do remember wondering, when I heard about what had happened on her show...how she could possibly support Kate when she is such a child advocate....and you just reminded me of this.
I would have to guess that this situation totally rattled her brain, as the man-hater within her went careening and crashing into the child advocate within her. If and when the tide finally turns and the child exploitation is revealed...it will be really interesting to see how Nancy Grace reconciles her prior stance and behavior regarding Kate.
I may even have to force myself to watch that. It frustrates me to no end when these TV hosts are not well-informed on the topic of discussion.
FINALLY! Woo Hoo, I'm busting out my 'favorite brand of wine in the box' to celebrate! ((hahaha;0))
Hope there are MORE people subpoened to testify about this crazy circus that the Gosselin 8 were made to perform in. Thanks to Kevin & Jodi Kreider then Jon, the Gosselin 8 were finally pulled off air.
TLC & Kate initiated a malicious campaign to demonize & criminalize the father of 8. Wonder if Kate/TLC are proud of their actions? I know Kate is because she seizes every opportunity in her passive aggressive, pity party, martyrdom performance to bash Jon. That performance deserves a special award from TLC.
Speculating on the spin TLC's legal team might probably attempt:
1. TLC was not responsible for filing the appropriate documents. Jon & Kate were responsible...but Jon is the easier target so lets blame him.
2. (<>Name of testifier<\B>) is barred due to confidentiality agreement signed with TLC. Is there a way around that?
3. It's NOT a reality show, its a <>documentary<\B>. Please review numerous tapes & interviews whereby Katie states, "We are the realist reality show."
IF there is a new PA law passed, I hope they name it Gosselin 8's Law for Child Actors/Performers...or something to that effect.
I pray they subpoena former cameramen, producers, etc.
I really hope this investigation is done thoroughly and that this judge doesn't get paid off.
Guess I don't know how to BOLD feature. I need to go back & read the instructions carefully. Sorry.
dee3 - I usually avoid her show too but I'll lower the volume and watch it if she airs anything on this. I wonder if she's ever had Allred on and if those two get along.
I have been to similar hearings in my state and basically, they resemble Senate hearings. It's a political hearing, not any sort of legal hearing and does not involve any sort of judge.
The ones I went to involved elder care and nursing homes. The politician who sponsored the hearings then gave interviews to the newspaper on his findings and impressions....and eventually, there were some changes made to the state laws related to this specific topic. The local newspaper also wrote articles on the individual hearings with statements included from various people in attendance....in addition to statements from the politician.
Basically, the impression I got was that this particular politician (involved in the hearings I went to years ago) had been approached and received letters from some fairly influential people in the state with specific complaints...and this was what prompted him to call the hearings. It seemed to me to be a response to pressure from constituents.
So my assumption would be that this particular politician in PA has received specific or numerous complaints, possibly regarding lack of results from the PA. dept. of labor, regarding their investigation and things of this nature...and that this has caused him to set-up this hearing.
It's basically to collect information and to get to the truth of the matter.
Jon Gosselin knew about this, Kate is making a total fool of herself on National TV, Jon wants to save his children, and now Kate shall experience the perfect storm. The can of worms has been opened.
The eight children need this help.
Wow, this is such very fine news! I had about given up on this process moving forward at all. I am very proud of Kevin & Jodi. I know Kelly has a very negative impression of Gloria Allred but truth be told she has made a significant impact on family and woman's rights in this country. Some of the cases that she has taken on surely do no fit with where I personally line up on the issue but so what? I challenge anyone to review her record from the very beginning of her career to the present time and I seriously doubt that you could refute the fact that she does champion rights for the "little people". YEAH Kevin & Jodi & Gloria!!!
AuntieAnn....Boy, I can't imagine Gloria Allred volunteering for the kind of abuse Nancy Grace subjects her guests to. I'm rather ambivalent about Gloria Allred and see her daughter, Lisa Bloom, in a more positive light. I do see Gloria as being rather a camera-hog herself....however, if the cause is right (in this case, the rights of the Gosselin children), she can be a very formidable advocate and can be a real asset.
I used to feel so sorry for Nancy Grace's guests...but then it occurred to me that they had signed-up for this abuse by just agreeing to be a guest on her show.
I would LOVE to see NG do an about-face on this Kate the saint stance and see a Nancy Grace/Gloria Allred united front for child advocacy (for the Gosselin children). I would definitely watch that...maybe even with the volume on. :O)
http://www.repmurt.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=8671
Murt to Host Hearing on Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Laws and Reality TV
4/12/2010
WHAT: Rep. Thomas P. Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia) will host a hearing of the House Republican Policy Committee to discuss Pennsylvania’s child labor laws as they relate to film and television production.
WHO: Rep. Thomas P. Murt, House Republican Policy Committee. The Committee will hear testimony from:
Paul Petersen – Former child actor, president and founder of “A Minor Consideration.”
Gloria Allred – Attorney and civil rights advocate.
Kevin and Jodi Krieder – Relatives of reality television stars.
Rebecca L. Gullan, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Psychology, Behavioral and Social Sciences Division, Gwynedd-Mercy College.
Robert Kuzynski – Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 14
TIME: 10 a.m.
WHERE: Blair Mill Inn, Fountain Room, 3855 Blair Mill Road, Horsham
WATCH IT LIVE: This hearing will be streamed live at RepMurt.com. Log on at 9:55 a.m.
Office of State Representative Thomas P. Murt
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
SEAN YEAKLE (717)787-3406
April 12, 2010 5:18 PM
Itsaboutthekids....
Thank-you, thank-you, for that information.
Excellent.
Wish they had a child psychologist or two on the panel. Hoping this asst. professor of psychology is knowledgeable about child psychology issues.
You're welcome, dee3. I've been sitting her trying to figure out how you can bold :
WATCH IT LIVE: This hearing will be streamed live at RepMurt.com. Log on at 9:55 a.m.
lol, I guess I'll have to try again.
Faculty Biography
Rebecca Gullan, PhD
Assistant professor of psychology Dr. Rebecca Gullan has been a faculty member at GMC since 2009. Dr. Gullan received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Cornell University and her master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology (with a specialization in children and families) from Bowling Green State University. Dr. Gullan's research interests include empowerment, community service, and identity development in minority, inner-city youth. She has collaborated with colleagues at Rutgers University and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on intervention development research related to health empowerment and violence prevention in urban youth. In addition, Dr. Gullan is on the board of directors for Inspiring Kids, Inc., a program designed to promote "green" service projects and youth philanthropy in school-age children. She is also on the Editorial Board for School Psychology Quarterly, the official school psychology journal of the American Psychological Association and serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for several other professional journals. Dr. Gullan teaches ethics, research methodology and experimentation, biopsychology and topical seminar.
Itsaboutthekids~
It says on Rep. Murt's website that you can watch the live stream of the hearing if you "log on". What does that mean? Would I simply have to provide my e-mail address and zip code in the upper right corner of the main page? Would that make me logged on and able to watch it?
Oh...and here's his e-mail address from his website if anyone would like to thank him for this or give input:
tmurt@pahousegop.com
Wow!
Lots of new information in the past few hours.
Can't help but think how Kate will blame the stress of this situation for her poor performance tonight.
Thank you itsaboutthekids.
You know it is about time is about all I can say.
Is it too much to hope that this could be the beginning of the end?
Probably. Teflon-Khate has never had the consequences of her actions catch up with her.
On the other hand, that house of cards is not build on a steady foundation, so there's at least a chance.
dee3, I believe you can click on this link at 9:55 a.m. (prob. ET?) Wednesday, April 14th. There should be a video box you can click on at that time to watch the hearing. Similar to what TMZ does almost daily at a certain time.
That's what I THINK. If someone knows that's wrong please correct the information. I am not a computer techie AT ALL.
http://www.repmurt.com/
And yes, DeKon, it IS about time and it's been a long time coming. I'm sure these people have been working behind the scenes for some time, and now TLC has rolled the dice to put the kids back on TV. Maybe that's all Allred and Petersen have been waiting for, the best possible moment.
TLC must have been taken by surprise by this. So far no response that I have seen.
Thank-you so much Itsaboutthekids--you have been my role model on this issue because you have NEVER wiavered for one minute in your stalwart support for the 8! I love you for this, really. And your personal story of your wonderful son and his son were very important for me to hear about all of that verrrryy long struggle and the pain so that you and his father could rescue him AND after 4 long yrs. were successful in doing so!!!!!!
NancyB,
You brought tears to my eyes and thank you for such kind words. Bad things can happen to anyone at any time. Good things sometimes take awhile, but the children are certainly worth the fight...and then some.
I've been busy blowing up BM's day with the news. This is the most positive Gosselin day in the last 2 years. FINALLY!
Perhaps Preesi and Werny Gal will attend. That would be awesome!
Rep.Murt is our local congressman, and he is very well respected. He's an Iraq vet and a pretty accomplished guy and family man. I wonder how he got sucked into this, but if he is running it, he'll do it with integrity.
I don't want this hearing to be solely about Jon and Kate and the abuse they have subjected their kids to. I want this hearing to be a referendum on future children being subjected to the type of abuse that Jon and Kate have subjected their children to and I want it to stop.
I hope they use Jon and Kate's abuse as a litmus test, rather than a perfect storm to punish the two of them. I'm not hear to see Jon and Kate hung out to dry, as much as I can't stand what they did. I'm here and on a few other blogs because of the outrage that this has caused and the voice to be heard so that this stops, not only for the Gosselin 8 but those innocent lives that follow in this wreck.
Yes Kelly you bring up a good point. This is about the children subject to reality programming. I don't care that Kate has a show. I think it is wrong to make the kids film Kate plus 8 though. They have been through enough.
Excellent point, Kelly! I think if there was ever a time to put the disdain for Kate aside and redirect it at TLC and any other reality show that showcases children, it's NOW.
The message needs to get across loud and clear that filming children without laws in place to protect them is ABUSE.
(I also personally believe that no child should have their lives put on tv for entertainment purposes. There is a HUGE difference between a child playing a role and a child playing themselves).
http://www.deseretnews.com/mobile/article/700023785/Children-still-dont-belong-on-TV.html
I pray that Jodi and Kevin file for FULL custody of the Gosselin children!
They should request that the McMansion be paid off and put in their name, Jon & Kate pay them $21,000.00 a month in child support, give them the children's college fund accounts, and pay ALL of their medical insurance!
Then Jon & Kate will be free to continue their quest for stardom!
I tried to post above with the name, Jon & Kate are both absentee parents.
I don't no what happened, but it did not post that way.
Help! Why is it posting Jon & etc?
Just wondering, You cracked me up with your post about blowing up BM's day!!! very funny
I am glad to hear this. As a resident of PA, I was disappointed that the authorities did not seem to be even looking into this matter.
I never understood the concept that the "kids aren't working"--if the adults are working and getting paid for doing the same thing, why aren't the children?
The show was not a one-time documentary type program--it was a weekly series in which situations and activities were set up with the specific purpose of filming for entertainment and profit. Also, the heavy product placement in the show essentially rendered it a half-hour long commercial for the products and services featured in each episode.
If children are normally expected to be paid for being in commercials--even though they are not "acting" and have no scripted lines --such as playing with a toy or crawling around in diapers--why weren't the Gosselin children paid (individually, in their own names) foe the same?
I glad someone in PA gov't is concerned enough to find out about what happened to the investigation into the show.
Lisa Rinna just got permits for her kids for her new reality docu-soap on TVLand. According to ROL: "In case you’re wondering what minors make on a series like that: it’s $2,000 per episode."
I wonder how much was put away for the 8 little $.
Folks,
I'd also like to direct you folks over to another LAWYER who "gets it", in fact she is a Professor at the Cumberland School of Law - Dayna Royal.
Here is the link to her LEGAL BRIEF/ABSTRACT on why children should not be in reality television:
Jon and Kate Plus the State: Why Congress Should Protect Children in Reality Programming
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1452986
To read the PDF file, simply select the "One-Click Download" link above the title.
PS: This is something I found last year, and I forwarded it on to Paul Petersen and basically connected him to Professor Royal. I pray this is one of those small boulders that starts the avalanche on STOPPING reality shows like J&K, WifeSwap, etc. where children are emotionally harmed.
nanb said:
I wonder how much was put away for the 8 little $.
----------------------------------
California (and to some extent New York) has more stringent Child Labor Laws - especially from the historical Coogan's Law.
And the reason Lisa Rinna's children WILL actually making any money is that the show is filmed in California.
Technically the contract TLC made with the parents excluded the kids. Now I cannot see that having happened with the Roloff's - he seems a bit more shrewd than that. But country bumpkin's J&K? Absolutely!
Also, when people ask about filming permits, etc. Remember TLC listed J&K as producers on the end credits as well - they can use that title (though it was probably empty of any real authority) to run THEM under the bus as to why things were not done correctly.
Not ole TLC, not Figure8 Films....but those producer/stars.... Jon and Kate.
The Associated Press
Gosselin relatives to testify at Pa. labor hearing
(AP) – 59 minutes ago
PHILADELPHIA — Relatives of Kate Gosselin are expected to testify at a Pennsylvania legislative hearing on child labor laws.
Republican state Rep. Thomas Murt wants to prevent exploitation of children who appear in movies and reality shows like "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
The once-popular TLC show documented the lives of Gosselin, her husband and their eight children at home in Wernersville, Pa. It ended last year after the couple split.
State labor officials investigated the production for possible violations of child labor laws but released no findings. TLC denied wrongdoing.
Gosselin's brother Kevin Kreider and his wife, Jodi, will testify Wednesday in Horsham. Other witnesses include attorney Gloria Allred and former child actor Paul Petersen of "The Donna Reed Show."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-Ttgh3cRm4ORGPnrcpZm4AFZJBQD9F2B2M00
nanb said:
I wonder how much was put away for the 8 little $.
----------------------------------
California (and to some extent New York) has more stringent Child Labor Laws - especially from the historical Coogan's Law.
And the reason Lisa Rinna's children WILL actually making any money is that the show is filmed in California.
Technically the contract TLC made with the parents excluded the kids. Now I cannot see that having happened with the Roloff's - he seems a bit more shrewd than that. But country bumpkin's J&K? Absolutely!
Also, when people ask about filming permits, etc. Remember TLC listed J&K as producers on the end credits as well - they can use that title (though it was probably empty of any real authority) to run THEM under the bus as to why things were not done correctly.
Not ole TLC, not Figure8 Films....but those producer/stars.... Jon and Kate.
Please, keep us updated!
Just wondering, You cracked me up with your post about blowing up BM's day!!! very funny
I tried to post above with the name, Jon & Kate are both absentee parents.
I don't no what happened, but it did not post that way.
I pray that Jodi and Kevin file for FULL custody of the Gosselin children!
They should request that the McMansion be paid off and put in their name, Jon & Kate pay them $21,000.00 a month in child support, give them the children's college fund accounts, and pay ALL of their medical insurance!
Then Jon & Kate will be free to continue their quest for stardom!
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