So much for campaign promises. Senator Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is criticizing President-elect Donald Trump for considering Andrew Puzder, the chief executive of the corporation that owns the fast-food restaurant chains Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., for Secretary of Labor.
Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the reported nomination of Puzder for the position.
“With the nomination of Andrew Puzder, President-elect Trump has sent another clear signal that he has no intention of fulfilling his campaign promise to put workers and retirees first — instead, he’s bent on building an administration made up of billionaires and the staunchest allies for big business, special interests, and Wall Street that he can find,” Murray said in the statement.
“The Department of Labor has significant and broad reach—from workers’ and labor rights to health and safety, workplace harassment, workforce investments, disability resources, pensions plans and so much more — so I am eager to meet Mr. Puzder to discuss in detail his plans and vision for the agency.
“At the outset, I am deeply concerned by Mr. Puzder’s record of standing in the way of progress on issues that would make an immediate difference in the lives of working families, in particular raising the minimum wage and ensuring equal pay for equal work. And I have serious questions about whether a CEO who is comfortable reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women and who is so dismissive of workplace discrimination issues can be trusted to uphold core missions of the department.
“I am also alarmed by Mr. Puzder’s vocal support for eliminating the new overtime rule and other basic protections the current department has worked to finalize. If President-elect Trump truly wants to stand up for workers and retirees, he and Mr. Puzder will commit to ensuring these protections are fully implemented.
“Working families in my home state of Washington and across the country are looking for strong leadership for the department and someone who is going to be on their side — and not just for those already at the top. So I will work tirelessly to make sure their voices and priorities are heard loud and clear as part of a rigorous vetting and hearing process for Mr. Puzder.”
