January 27, 2017

 

 

The Honorable Lamar Alexander

Chairman

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

428 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

 

Dear Chairman Alexander,

 

Independent Women’s Voice, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization for mainstream women, men and families, is proud to support the nomination of Andrew Puzder as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor.

 

We are confident that Mr. Puzder will bring his real-world experience as a businessman to the Labor Department and use it to serve working Americans and their families. As the CEO of CKE Restaurants, one of the most successful food companies in the country, Andrew Puzder employed more than 75,000 workers. He knows firsthand that workers, particularly women and those on the bottom of the economic ladder, need jobs and the greater economic opportunity and therefore will benefit most from the rolling back of excessive regulations that hamstring our economy.  No one was a more compelling advocate for the interests of those workers who would be most hurt by the Affordable Care Act, or a more lucid commentator on the challenges and adverse incentives created by that law for businesses.

 

Unfortunately, both workers and entrepreneurs have suffered under the burdensome regulations imposed by the Obama Administration’s Labor Department. Over the past eight years, job creators have paid $55.7 billion in regulatory costs and were hit with close to 70 million hours of paperwork, and as a consequence, during that time period, more businesses failed than were created.  

 

The truth is that many businesses simply can't afford to expend these resources and end up having to find other ways to cut costs, such as by trimming back hours or reducing the staff all together. Burdensome government regulations also make it more difficult for employers to provide employees true flexibility, such as to the ability to work from home or work flexible hours. That a big loss—particularly for mothers, who highly value flexible work arrangements.

 

A better way to alleviate poverty and help more workers would be to roll back regulations and encourage the development of a vibrant economy with plentiful job opportunities so individuals can find positions most suitable to their individual skills and preferences. Not only will this increase profits and take-home pay across the board, it will allow women to find work arrangements and compensation packages that work best for them and their families.

 

That’s why we need Andrew Puzder to be the next Secretary of Labor, so that we can stay clear of constrictive government mandates and instead pursue policies that help the economy and grow and create good paying jobs for all Americans. IWV strongly urges the Senate to consider and confirm Andrew Puzder as the next Secretary of Labor.

 

Sincerely,

 

Heather Higgins

President and CEO