Writing Off Worker Safety
Thursday, July 24, 2008
For more than seven years, the Bush administration's Labor Department has steadfastly refused to update the rules that limit workers' exposure to toxic substances. The agency should have continued that policy as the second Bush term winds to a close.
Instead, political appointees within the department have suddenly become ambitious. They are working overtime to rush through new federal rules that would undermine worker protections. And they've tried to do so secretly, avoiding issuing legally required public notices. Little information leaked out until the Washington Post wrote about the effort yesterday.
Besides making the exposure formulas business-friendly, the new rules would give industry more opportunity to challenge any new limit on chemical exposure that future administrations might propose.
The chairmen of the Senate and House labor committees, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), sent a letter to President Bush yesterday demanding that the administration drop the lame-duck assault on worker safety.
But Congress needs to look at more than just the Labor Department. There is no telling what other regulatory mischief the executive branch is trying to slip into the federal rule book before Bush leaves Washington in January.
If ever there was an administration that requires congressional oversight, it is this one. Right up until its very last day in office.
Comment
George Bush and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao are at their old tricks to punish labor and reward industry. They have no respect for those that have to earn a living to feed, clothe, and house their families. Too many Americans do not have enough to eat. Too many Americans do not have adequate health insurance. The overall wage and benefit level has declined during the Bush administration. College costs are too high and out of reach for many Americans. There is a shortage of affordable housing.
Now that George Bush and Elaine Chao diminished wages and benefits, they are seeking to reduce regulations on worker safety so that many Americans can become sick or injured or even die because of their job. The regulations were put there because of unsafe conditions in the past and are still required. In fact the regulations should be enhanced due to new technologies and methods used today at the job sites.
George Bush and Elaine Chao have really kicked American labor where it hurts. They have done it again and again. They have no modesty. They have shamed us all. They are not our friends.
John McCain wants to be our friend to vote for him in November, but he is also a Republican and he unashamedly supports George Bush and Elaine Chao. In fact, all of the Republicans in Congress support them. The Republicans want to write off worker safety.
There are more than 100 million working Americans and they should all create a stir. They should write their elected officials. They should demonstrate during an organized demonstration if they have the opportunity to attend one. They should challenge John McCain in person verbally on worker safety. Unions should express their displeasure.
The Democrats were involved with the low wage and benefit campaign of the Bush administration and they should be challenged, also. Whether by direct support of the George Bush low wage and low benefit agenda or by being quiet, he could not have been as successful without them. Now we will watch to see how much worker safety will be written off.
For more than seven years, the Bush administration's Labor Department has steadfastly refused to update the rules that limit workers' exposure to toxic substances. The agency should have continued that policy as the second Bush term winds to a close.
Instead, political appointees within the department have suddenly become ambitious. They are working overtime to rush through new federal rules that would undermine worker protections. And they've tried to do so secretly, avoiding issuing legally required public notices. Little information leaked out until the Washington Post wrote about the effort yesterday.
Besides making the exposure formulas business-friendly, the new rules would give industry more opportunity to challenge any new limit on chemical exposure that future administrations might propose.
The chairmen of the Senate and House labor committees, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), sent a letter to President Bush yesterday demanding that the administration drop the lame-duck assault on worker safety.
But Congress needs to look at more than just the Labor Department. There is no telling what other regulatory mischief the executive branch is trying to slip into the federal rule book before Bush leaves Washington in January.
If ever there was an administration that requires congressional oversight, it is this one. Right up until its very last day in office.
Comment
George Bush and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao are at their old tricks to punish labor and reward industry. They have no respect for those that have to earn a living to feed, clothe, and house their families. Too many Americans do not have enough to eat. Too many Americans do not have adequate health insurance. The overall wage and benefit level has declined during the Bush administration. College costs are too high and out of reach for many Americans. There is a shortage of affordable housing.
Now that George Bush and Elaine Chao diminished wages and benefits, they are seeking to reduce regulations on worker safety so that many Americans can become sick or injured or even die because of their job. The regulations were put there because of unsafe conditions in the past and are still required. In fact the regulations should be enhanced due to new technologies and methods used today at the job sites.
George Bush and Elaine Chao have really kicked American labor where it hurts. They have done it again and again. They have no modesty. They have shamed us all. They are not our friends.
John McCain wants to be our friend to vote for him in November, but he is also a Republican and he unashamedly supports George Bush and Elaine Chao. In fact, all of the Republicans in Congress support them. The Republicans want to write off worker safety.
There are more than 100 million working Americans and they should all create a stir. They should write their elected officials. They should demonstrate during an organized demonstration if they have the opportunity to attend one. They should challenge John McCain in person verbally on worker safety. Unions should express their displeasure.
The Democrats were involved with the low wage and benefit campaign of the Bush administration and they should be challenged, also. Whether by direct support of the George Bush low wage and low benefit agenda or by being quiet, he could not have been as successful without them. Now we will watch to see how much worker safety will be written off.
posted by God Bless America - Bob at 11:02 AM
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