Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who is in line to chair the Senate's Health, Education, and Labor Committee, has expressed reservations regarding President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Labor Department. The nominee in question is Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who hails from a Democratic-leaning district in Oregon and has a more moderate stance on labor issues.
Senator Cassidy has indicated his intention to engage in discussions with Chavez-DeRemer to gain insight into her vision for the Department of Labor (DOL). Of particular concern to him is her past support for Democratic legislation that could potentially impact Louisiana's status as a right-to-work state. He seeks clarity on whether she intends to uphold such positions in the future.
Chavez-DeRemer is known for being one of the most labor-friendly Republicans in Washington and has garnered favor from Teamsters President Sean O'Brien. Notably, she is among the few GOP members of Congress who have co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. This legislation, currently stalled in committee, aims to weaken right-to-work laws in nearly 30 states and facilitate easier unionization for workers. The PRO Act's counterpart in the Senate was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a prominent progressive figure.
Right-to-work laws, which are in place in multiple states, prevent employees from being compelled to pay mandatory union dues as a condition of employment, irrespective of their union membership status.
