Senate Democrats have approved Julie Su’s renomination as Labor Secretary in a private meeting
Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su, left, and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Senate Democrats Approve Julie Su’s Renomination as Labor Secretary
Senate Democrats have given their approval for President Joe Biden’s renomination of Julie Su as labor secretary. The decision was made in a closed-door, party-line vote on Tuesday. However, this move has drawn criticism from Republicans who argue that the secretive vote has prevented further scrutiny of the controversial nominee.
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, who leads the Senate Labor Committee, announced the vote on Monday, expressing his strong support for Su and highlighting her ”strong pro-worker track record.” It is important to note that the vote is largely symbolic, as Su has not managed to gain the support of moderate Democrats who opposed her confirmation last year due to her perceived favoritism towards unions. These lawmakers were not part of Tuesday’s vote. Biden had previously abandoned her confirmation efforts and appointed her as “acting” labor secretary before renominating her last month.
“[Sanders’s] decision to not hold a public hearing on Ms. Su is unacceptable and demonstrates a lack of transparency from the majority,” criticized Republican senator Bill Cassidy, the ranking member of the Labor Committee, during a Senate floor speech on Monday.
Sanders’s endorsement of Su comes as she introduces a controversial regulation regarding independent contractors. This regulation requires companies to reclassify contractors and freelancers as employees, making it more difficult for individuals to work for themselves. House Republicans have already introduced legislation to overturn this rule, which is based on a California law that Su implemented during her tenure as the state’s labor chief.
The Senate panel voted 11-10 in favor of approving Su’s renomination. A representative for Sanders did not provide a comment when requested.
Concerns Over Su’s Leadership Ability
Following Sanders’s announcement of the vote on Monday, Senator Cassidy expressed growing concerns about Su’s suitability to lead the Labor Department. He criticized her “troubling record” as acting labor secretary, which includes the implementation of far-reaching independent contractor regulations. Cassidy also highlighted her failure to address a “dramatic increase” in illegal child labor, which has risen by 50 percent since 2022 according to a report from her agency.
“This is happening amidst alarming reports that senior officials at the Labor Department repeatedly ignored warnings and downplayed the exploitation of migrant children for cheap labor, to which Ms. Su has failed to adequately respond,” Cassidy stated.
How has Julie Su worked to address the concerns raised by lawmakers and rebuild relationships with key stakeholders after her withdrawal from consideration for the position in April?
Rceived mishandling of unemployment benefits during her tenure as head of California’s labor agency.
The approval of Su’s renomination comes as the Biden administration seeks to fill key positions within the Department of Labor. Su, who currently serves as the Deputy Labor Secretary, was initially nominated for the position by Biden in March of this year. However, her confirmation faced opposition from several members of the Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, leading to her withdrawal from consideration in April.
Since then, Su has been working closely with the Biden administration to address concerns raised by lawmakers. She has made efforts to rebuild relationships with key stakeholders and has taken steps to rectify the issues that were raised during her previous confirmation process.
Su’s renomination has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters argue that she is a highly qualified candidate with a strong commitment to worker rights and social justice. They praise her track record of fighting for immigrants’ rights and her efforts to address wage theft and worker exploitation. They believe that her experience and expertise make her the ideal candidate to lead the Department of Labor during this critical time.
However, critics argue that Su’s nomination is problematic due to her handling of the unemployment benefits system in California. They claim that under her leadership, the state’s Employment Development Department struggled to process claims efficiently, leaving millions of unemployed workers without benefits during the pandemic. They believe that this raises concerns about her ability to effectively manage the Department of Labor and address the challenges faced by workers nationwide.
The closed-door vote on Su’s renomination has also drawn criticism. Republicans argue that the lack of transparency prevents a proper examination of Su’s qualifications and raises questions about the integrity of the confirmation process. They believe that such an important decision should be made in a more open and inclusive manner.
Despite the controversy surrounding her nomination, it is expected that Su will ultimately be confirmed as Labor Secretary. The Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, and even though there may be some moderate Democrats who remain skeptical of Su, it is likely that she will receive enough support from her party to secure the position.
Once confirmed, Su will face numerous challenges as she takes the helm of the Department of Labor. She will be tasked with addressing issues such as wage stagnation, workplace safety, and the gig economy. She will also play a crucial role in implementing the Biden administration’s agenda, which includes expanding worker protections, promoting unionization, and advancing social justice.
Overall, the approval of Julie Su’s renomination as Labor Secretary reflects the ongoing political dynamics in Washington. It highlights the partisan divide on key issues and the challenges faced by nominees in navigating the confirmation process. As Su assumes the role of Labor Secretary, it remains to be seen how she will address the concerns raised by both her supporters and critics and how she will shape the future of labor policy in the United States.
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