U.S. Labor Dept nominee Puzder withdraws, in blow to Trump

[webfact]

U.S. Labor Dept nominee Puzder withdraws, in blow to Trump

By Sarah N. Lynch

REUTERS

 

Andrew Puzder takes part in a panel discussion titled "Understanding the Post-Recession Consumer" at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California April 30, 2012. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a blow to President Donald Trump as he tries to assemble his administration, his nominee for labour secretary, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his name from consideration on Wednesday amid concerns that he could not garner enough Senate votes to be confirmed.

 

Puzder's decision to withdraw is yet another setback this week for a White House still grappling with fallout from Monday night's abrupt resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn, after less than a month in the job.

 

Puzder, the chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants Inc, which primarily franchises fast-food chains including Hardee's and Carl's Jr, has been at the centre of a swirl of controversies, complaints and potential conflicts.

 

He admitted earlier this month that he and his wife had employed an undocumented person as a housekeeper. He faced a flurry of complaints and legal cases brought in recent weeks and months by workers against his business and its franchises.

 

Most recently, a decades-old Oprah Winfrey tape raising allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife resurfaced, though those allegations had been withdrawn.

 

“After careful consideration and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my nomination for Secretary of Labor," Puzder said in a statement.

 

Puzder's withdrawal came one day before his scheduled confirmation hearing.

 

At least seven Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, declined to publicly back Puzder in advance of the confirmation hearing.

 

For weeks now, Republican senators have been telling Senator John Cornyn, the second-highest ranking Republican, that they believed some of their colleagues would join Collins and Murkowski in opposing Puzder, according to a senior Senate Republican aide.

 

DEMOCRATS CHEER

 

The Labor Department oversees compliance with federal laws that mandate safe working conditions, a minimum hourly wage, overtime wages and prohibit employment discrimination.

 

As labour secretary, Puzder would have shaped the department’s approach to these issues, including whether to defend an Obama administration rule expanding overtime pay to millions of workers that has been challenged in the courts.

 

Earlier this month, Puzder admitted he and his wife had employed an undocumented person as a housekeeper and had to pay back taxes as a result.

 

Workers at some of CKE's restaurants have filed claims in recent weeks alleging they were victims of wage theft or victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

 

Another possible problem were allegations dating back to 1986 that Puzder had physically abused his now ex-wife, Lisa Henning, now known as Lisa Fierstein.

 

Fierstein filed for divorce in 1987 and later retracted her allegations, but not before appearing anonymously as a victim of domestic abuse on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

 

Last week, the OWN Network released a copy of that tape to the Senate committee so both Democratic and Republican members could view it, according to an aide.

 

"From the start, it’s been clear that Puzder is uniquely unqualified to serve as secretary of labour," said Patty Murray, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Timothy Ahmann, Richard Cowan, Robert Iafolla and Amanda Becker; Editing by Linda Stern and Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-16

[Credo]

And this is a president who wants extreme vetting of refugees and immigrants, but can't seem to even do a remedial vetting of his own nominees.   

 

What has the US gotten itself into with this President?

 

[IMA_FARANG]

I addition Trump aide Kellyanne Conway has been refused her chance to appear on a talk show, Morning with Joe because she was regarded to be not pertanent to the shows theme by the shows producers.

She had apparently asked to appear on the show to talk about Trump and his policys, and the shows producers refused her request saying she was 'no longer in the line of those with direct relevance and not regularly briefed' on Trumps day to day afairs and not relevant to the theme of their show.

If you remember Kellyanne  is the Trump advisor who used a previous media appearance to act as a salesperson  to extol the virtues of Ivana Trumps products on nationwide television.

Apparently she has now been removed from the 'A list' of those regularly briefed by the White House for that previous appearance.

And so they fall, one by one.

 

[Traveler19491]

Yes, they certainly are draining the swamp...and pumping the sludge straight into the White House.

[craigt3365]

Another defeat for Trump.  He's got to be fuming right about now.  I'm sure he's not happy when he doesn't get his way! LOL

[Jingthing]

Another defeat for Trump.  He's got to be fuming right about now.  I'm sure he's not happy when he doesn't get his way! LOL

Yeah. It may get even scarier now. A man baby that has based his brand on winning is losing.

[DriveByTrucker]

3 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

I addition Trump aide Kellyanne Conway has been refused her chance to appear on a talk show, Morning with Joe because she was regarded to be not pertanent to the shows theme by the shows producers.

She had apparently asked to appear on the show to talk about Trump and his policys, and the shows producers refused her request saying she was 'no longer in the line of those with direct relevance and not regularly briefed' on Trumps day to day afairs and not relevant to the theme of their show.

If you remember Kellyanne  is the Trump advisor who used a previous media appearance to act as a salesperson  to extol the virtues of Ivana Trumps products on nationwide television.

Apparently she has now been removed from the 'A list' of those regularly briefed by the White House for that previous appearance.

And so they fall, one by one.

 

The daily alternative briefings of princess Valium are gonna be sincerely missed.....

[Rhys]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Another defeat for Trump.  He's got to be fuming right about now.  I'm sure he's not happy when he doesn't get his way! LOL

 

 

 

So he sends in for Miller time.....55555

 

[Prbkk]

Trump was demonstrating utter contempt for the very people who elected him, the forgotten men and women, by nominating such a low-life ratbag in the first case.

[GiantFan]

Trump pulls Puzder (with a silent Z and er).

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

6 hours ago, Credo said:

And this is a president who wants extreme vetting of refugees and immigrants, but can't seem to even do a remedial vetting of his own nominees.   

 

What has the US gotten itself into with this President?

 

How can they justify extreme vetting for refugees and at the same time refuse to have extreme vetting for citizens buying guns?

 

32,000 handgun deaths per year, how many killed by refugees?

[sujoop]

1 hour ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

How can they justify extreme vetting for refugees and at the same time refuse to have extreme vetting for citizens buying guns?

 

32,000 handgun deaths per year, how many killed by refugees?

 

Sadly, most mass gun incidents are perpetrated by white disturbed homegrown males with mental issues. But aw heck, nevermind facts, as any low-info, low-intel Trump supporter will tell you, get over it, they won, yippeee!  (and can now do whatever they want apparently - and so they are, labor Dept included, with or without Puzder, mai pen rai, the circus carries on)
 

House votes to overturn Labor Department drug testing regulation

The House has voted 236-189 to overturn a Labor Department rule establishing when states could require drug testing for certain laid-off workers seeking unemployment insurance. (Examples for which testing would have been allowed under the regulation include flight crews and jobs requiring a firearm.)
http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/The-Latest-House-votes-to-block-rule-for-10935496.php
 

Congress blocks rule barring mentally impaired from buying guns

The GOP has moved aggressively on several fronts to rescind some of the Obama administration's final regulations on the environment, financial reporting and now guns. Under an expedited process established through the Congressional Review Act, a regulation is made invalid when a simple majority of both chambers pass a joint resolution of disapproval and the president signs it.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/senate-votes-block-rule-guns-mentally-impaired-160528028--finance.html
 

75,000 people with mental disorders can now buy firearms

The Republican-led Senate has voted to block an Obama-era regulation that would prevent an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to purchase a firearm.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/The-Latest-House-votes-to-block-rule-for-10935496.php
 

GOP-led House vote to reject two Labor Department rules helping low income workers
The GOP-led House has voted to reject two Obama Labor Department rules designed to guide states and large cities and counties as they create retirement savings programs for low-income workers. With millions having no access to retirement-savings plans at their jobs, some states have been working to fill the void.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/The-Latest-House-votes-to-block-rule-for-10935496.php

Next up, neuter DoddFrank/Obama bank/wall street financial rules + more corporate gifts to follow, including reducing EPA rules affecting water/air quality  (you know, all to help the little guy who now has a voice again according to Trumpsters...) It's just GOP/Trump makin Murica grrrreat agin y'all.

 

 

Edited February 16, 2017 by sujoop
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[scorecard]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Another defeat for Trump.  He's got to be fuming right about now.  I'm sure he's not happy when he doesn't get his way! LOL

 

'Your Fired' comes to mind.

[Dagnabbit]

Yeah. It may get even scarier now. A man baby that has based his brand on winning is losing.

The only 'men babies' are those constantly making dire predictions about Trumps demise that never come true.

Four more years of liberal tears.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mtls2005]

This guy is obviously a total putz; from threatening his wife, to hiring an illegal domestic worker, keeping wages down in his Hardee's/Carl Jr's, fighting unions. 

 

I'm on the fence re: his advertising strategies...

 

 

 

[Redline]

And, Trump only takes questions from alternative media outlets in press conferences.   Look, if he is as "smart" as he says he is, he would not alienate and personally attack, some conservatives, most of the media, most of the intelligence community, most of Europe, Mexico, most liberals, some independents... the list will get longer, but what kind of supernatural powers does he think he has?  We are very lucky he has such a big ego.  Dig the hole.  The faster, the better

[Redline]

36 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

This guy is obviously a total putz; from threatening his wife, to hiring an illegal domestic worker, keeping wages down in his Hardee's/Carl Jr's, fighting unions. 

 

I'm on the fence re: his advertising strategies...

 

 

 

These just won one of my awards.  Heading off to Nana.  Thanks for getting me out of the house Putz!