Don’t politicians ever learn? The Biden administration wants to crack down on freelance work. – Orange County Register

The Ministry of Labor has just imposed 300 pages of new regulations to reclassify many individual entrepreneurs as employees.

CNBC says this could help freelancers “recover lost wages.”

This is simply absurd.

The new rules will allow Stronger for some self-employed people to support a family. My new video shows how it will also be harder for them to do what they want to do.

I know this because I saw what happened in California.

Four years ago, unions asked Congresswoman Lorena Gonzalez to pass a new law reclassifying gig workers.

They were told they would get higher wages, overtime and other benefits.

The clueless media loved it.

Vox called the law “a major victory for workers everywhere.”

Ha! A few months later, the media Vox laid off hundreds of freelancers.

“They expected all these companies to reclassify independent contractors as employees,” independent musician Ari Herstand told me. “They’re actually letting them go!” »

Herstand was dismayed to learn that when he wants other musicians to join him, he can no longer just write them a check.

“I have to put this drummer on the payroll, the W2, get workers’ compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, payroll taxes!” he’s complaining. “I need to hire a payroll company.”

California’s anti-freelance law was supposed to protect “mistreated” Uber and Lyft drivers.

But a lot as the flexibility of being independent. “I don’t want a boss telling me when and where to drive!” » We were told.

But union-funded politicians insist they know better.

Gonzalez said, “When you have to take a side job or a third or fourth job, that’s not flexibility; It’s feudalism!

What followed was what usually happens when politicians pass bad laws. Politically connected people pay lawyers and lobby to exempt them. Truck drivers received an exemption from the new California law. So did writers, photojournalists, graphic designers, illustrators, musicians (like Herstand), and more than a hundred other professions.

Uber and Lyft also received exemptions.

“Why is this a good law? ” I ask. “Exemption for anyone smart enough to talk to politicians.”

“It’s definitely not the solution,” admits Herstand. “That doesn’t seem like a way to legislate.”

No, but that’s how it happens.

When a reporter asked Gonzalez, “What do you have to say to these independent journalists, these independent contractors, who have lost their jobs because of your bill?”

The lawmaker sneered: “These are not jobs. These are freelance positions that can last three hours per month.

Arrogance !

People selected these jobs. Most had other choices. Unemployment is low.

Freelancers enjoy the flexibility that self-employment offers.

How dare politicians declare to everyone that these jobs are not enough?

“They are embarrassed that they made this huge mistake.” Said Herstand.

“They’re not taking it back,” I point out.

“No politician wants to admit that he did something wrong,” he replies.

The consequences of California’s mistakes are now known.

Even with all the exemptions given to politically connected people, freelancers still lost their jobs.

A Mercatus Center study found that employment fell by as much as 28% in occupations where self-employment was common.