Labor Secretary Nominee Puzder Withdraws
Under default democratic pressure Labor Secretary Nominee, Andrew Puzder has withdrawn from consideration after several Republican Senators reportedly said they would not support him. The withdrawal now deepens the drama surrounding the review of the DOL Fiduciary rule, ordered by a Trump Executive memo.
“I’ve expressed my concerns about a number of issues,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the senators who was undecided.
Puzder was mired in personal issues related to the hiring of an illegal migrant worker, for which he did not pay taxes, an issue not easily overlooked in an administration that is making illegal immigration a major issue. Despite support of the issue by democrats and liberals, Puzder was not likely to gain any sympathy from the left.
While Puzder’s withdrawal is part of the new cabinet appointment process and the Labor Secretary position is not seen as a high-level appointee, Trump Administrations preferred having Puzder withdraw rather than losing a Senate vote, which would be an embarrassment.
In addition, a video of Puzder’s ex-wife claiming abuse surfaced. In the past year, democrats have produced dozens of alleged victims of abuse against their republican counter-parts. And although his ex-wife’s assertions were not substantiated by evidence, the momentum of negative sentiment appears to have washed away Puzder’s chances of being confirmed. This week Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee members began viewing the Oprah tape, with top Democrat Patty Murray of Washington state saying that she was left “deeply troubled” by the video.
According to a report from POLITICO, “Other Republicans on the HELP Committee wavered on his nomination included Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Johnny Isakson of Georgia. None would say on Wednesday they outwardly oppose him. The preference among senators was to avoid having to vote down his nomination by having Trump yank it.”
Puzder’s withdrawal now adds to speculation over the fate of the DOL fiduciary rule that is expected to be implemented on April 10.
