Getting Back to Work & History of Labor Day

Getting Back to Work & History of Labor Day plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

When Congress returns to work this week, everyone will be anticipating the work of the deficit-reduction "super committee".  In the meantime, House Republican leaders say they also have set a legislative agenda for fall and winter that concentrates heavily on regulatory and tax relief. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says - it is essential that the House continue our focus on the jobs crisis. House leaders also expect President Obama to advance three free-trade agreements sometime this fall, and Cantor promised that - when he finally sends them our way, I will not hesitate to schedule them.

Well it’s officially September and according to Meteorologist Brad Rippey that just might mean cooler temperatures for some parts of the U.S.

RIPPEY: It looks like a lot of the U.S. except maybe the areas west of the Rockies will be seeing a real touch of Autumn here as we head into September some of that cooler air will be pushing southward through the plains, eastward through the midwest and as we head beyond Labor Day into next week the strongest push yet will bring likely below normal temperatures deep into the mid south and the midwest.

Here in the northwest though it’s more of the usual.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

The Labor Day Holiday generally marks the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. Most people use this misunderstood holiday as a chance to squeeze in one last trip to the beach or mountains and a chance to get together with friends and family for a final blowout barbecue. But just how and why do we even have a Labor Day weekend? It may be hard to believe but way back in the late 19th century the average American worker faced terrible working conditions, with twelve to fourteen hour days, seven days a week. Numerous labor groups fought for fair pay, and fair treatment for American workers. There is some dispute in the history annuals of just who specifically was responsible for the beginning of the Labor Day tradition, but it was first proposed as an official holiday by the Central Labor Union in New York City back in the late 1880’s. Labor Day is one of those strange national holidays that we in essence no longer celebrate it’s original intent, but we do get off work for. If you think about it, what better way to celebrate and honor working people than by giving them an extra day off in which to relax and enjoy their families.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.