Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Labor, told lawmakers on Wednesday that if confirmed she would respect state right-to-work laws after previously backing a bill that would have repealed laws allowing workers to opt out of labor unions.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, told lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions multiple times that she would not oppose right-to-work states. This is a reversal from her time in Congress, when she backed the PRO Act, legislation that would have overturned state laws allowing a worker to not be forced to join a union or pay union dues to be employed.
During the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer indicated to both Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) that she would not challenge right-to-work laws.
When asked by Cassidy whether she still supported the PRO Act, Chavez-DeRemer responded by saying that she recognized she was “no longer a lawmaker,” and would work to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda.
“I respect the right of the right-to-work states, and I have said that. That bill was imperfect, I understand that, and I am no longer a lawmaker,” she said.
Later, she more explicitly said she would support the laws of right-to-work states during a back-and-forth with Paul, who had previously said he would not back her nomination.
“The right to work is a fundamental tenant of labor laws where states have a right to choose if they want to be a right to work state,” she told Paul. “I fully, fairly, and support states who want to protect their right to work. I have said that to every senator I have visited with.”
“So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would’ve overturned state right-to-work laws?” Paul asked.
“Yeah,” she responded.
“That’s a yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied, and Paul said that he had “no more questions.”
When asked after the hearing about whether he would potentially change his vote on her confirmation, Paul said that he would be reexamining her answers.
“I’m going to think about her answers and think about whether or not a conversion at this last moment is sincere,” he said.
Chavez-DeRemer was also asked during the hearing about her previous work at Planned Parenthood when she was in her 20s.
“I am supportive of the president’s agenda. I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress and I will continue to support the America First agenda, which we know includes life,” she said when asked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) whether she was pro-abortion or pro-life.
“Good answer,” he replied.
Chavez-DeRemer has a “B” rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which notes she did vote to oppose some pro-life measures in Congress, saying that she “publicly opposed passage of bills that would permanently stop taxpayer funding of abortion across the federal government.”
Her confirmation appears to be on track as most of the Republicans on the committee and a few of the Democrats appeared likely to vote to advance her nomination.
A number of unions, including the International Franchise Association, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association, have also announced support for her nomination.
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[[{“value”:”
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Labor, told lawmakers on Wednesday that if confirmed she would respect state right-to-work laws after previously backing a bill that would have repealed laws allowing workers to opt out of labor unions.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, told lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions multiple times that she would not oppose right-to-work states. This is a reversal from her time in Congress, when she backed the PRO Act, legislation that would have overturned state laws allowing a worker to not be forced to join a union or pay union dues to be employed.
During the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer indicated to both Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) that she would not challenge right-to-work laws.
When asked by Cassidy whether she still supported the PRO Act, Chavez-DeRemer responded by saying that she recognized she was “no longer a lawmaker,” and would work to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda.
“I respect the right of the right-to-work states, and I have said that. That bill was imperfect, I understand that, and I am no longer a lawmaker,” she said.
Later, she more explicitly said she would support the laws of right-to-work states during a back-and-forth with Paul, who had previously said he would not back her nomination.
“The right to work is a fundamental tenant of labor laws where states have a right to choose if they want to be a right to work state,” she told Paul. “I fully, fairly, and support states who want to protect their right to work. I have said that to every senator I have visited with.”
“So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would’ve overturned state right-to-work laws?” Paul asked.
“Yeah,” she responded.
“That’s a yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied, and Paul said that he had “no more questions.”
When asked after the hearing about whether he would potentially change his vote on her confirmation, Paul said that he would be reexamining her answers.
“I’m going to think about her answers and think about whether or not a conversion at this last moment is sincere,” he said.
Chavez-DeRemer was also asked during the hearing about her previous work at Planned Parenthood when she was in her 20s.
“I am supportive of the president’s agenda. I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress and I will continue to support the America First agenda, which we know includes life,” she said when asked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) whether she was pro-abortion or pro-life.
“Good answer,” he replied.
Chavez-DeRemer has a “B” rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which notes she did vote to oppose some pro-life measures in Congress, saying that she “publicly opposed passage of bills that would permanently stop taxpayer funding of abortion across the federal government.”
Her confirmation appears to be on track as most of the Republicans on the committee and a few of the Democrats appeared likely to vote to advance her nomination.
A number of unions, including the International Franchise Association, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association, have also announced support for her nomination.
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