Republicans Seek to Kill OSHA? If It's FOR the People, They're Against It!

[Dr. Jones]

I'm really beginning to despise Republicans and everything they stand for. I'm not one to have hatred in my heart, but boy is it HARD to see their selfish, greedy, callous, unfeeling, rude, arrogant philosophy and still maintain ANY measure of civility.

As workers' comp benefits have become more difficult to obtain, the threat to workplace safety has grown more serious. During the first two years of the Clinton administration, OSHA seemed like a revitalized agency. It began to draw up the first ergonomics standards for the nation's manufacturers, aiming to reduce cumulative trauma disorders. The election of 1994, however, marked a turning point. The Republican majority in Congress that rose to power that year not only impeded the adoption of ergonomics standards but also raised questions about the future of OSHA. Working closely with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, House Republicans have worked hard to limit OSHA's authority. Congressmen Cass Ballenger, a Republican from North Carolina, introduced legislation that would require OSHA to spend at least half of its budget on "consultation" with businesses, instead of enforcement. This new budget requirement would further reduce the number of OSHA inspections, which by the late 1990s had already reached an all-time low. Ballenger has long opposed OSHA inspections, despite the fact that near his own district a fire at a poultry plant killed twenty-five workers in 1991. The plant had never been inspected by OSHA, its emergency exits had been chained shut, and the bodies of workers were found in piles near the locked doors. Congressmen Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican whose district includes Colorado Springs, has introduced a bill that makes Ballenger's seem moderate. Hefley's "OSHA Reform Act" would essentially repeal the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. It would forbid OSHA from conducting any workplace inspections or imposing any fines.

Source: Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. New York: Perennial/Harper Collins, 2002. pp 185-186.

Note to admins: I was unsure of the length of this excerpt, but it was indeed written as one full paragraph in the book cited. Please let me know if it's too long, and I'll oblige.

[MadMaddie]

1. The sooner we get rid of these rat bastards the better...

American lives are in peril.....every man and woman and child is in danger from this adminstration.


Thanks for the information!!

Welcome to DU:hi:

[kurth]

2. Hell, illegal immigrants don't need OSHA

They don't even read the minimum wage law on the wall.

[elehhhhna]

4. Osha actually vistits the site upon the death of the SECOND immigrant

worker. Truefact in Houston area.

[havocmom]

5. And employers can stiff the Workers Comp fund

along with other taxes on payroll. They can ignore a whole lotta safety standards and laws regulating conditions in the work place.

When I hear about INS raids on ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS, I'll consider taking all the GOP rhetoric seriously.

They want to starve worker into accepting NO standards, No regulation, and NO recourse to abuse and exploitation. They also want all laws protecting the environment repealed. There is a reason US factories sprang up just over the border with Mexico.

[rodeodance]

3. to them this is a 'social program"

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. They must not have family who've been killed in workplace "accidents"

...that were completely preventable. Hard to think of OSHA as a social program after that, I reckon.

[Lars39]

6. Reagan started OSHA's dismantling.

[MemphisTiger]

7. self delete

[Lars39]

14. Wasn't right *at all* the way I had it before, huh?

:evilgrin:

[MemphisTiger]

15. What?

[Lars39]

16. ....

I had a poorly worded subject line before I edited. I thought you had flamed me for it. :blush: :D

[AlCzervik]

9. you should read "Bushwacked" by Molly Ivins, she got a lot of info

about the republican roll backs on worker safety.

[Dr. Jones]

10. I just don't understand and never will

how they can trade caring for people for greed and money.

Maybe I will check out that book, thanks.

[Beaverhausen]

13. I was going to recommend that too

Lots of stories in there about how the lessening of safety rules effects us, especially the working poor.

Love Molly! :loveya:

[Bluzmann57]

11. Ok this confirms it

OSHA was signed into law by Richard Nixon, who was an asshole. But these people make Nixon look like a moderate. This is one which we need to fight and fight hard.

[madokie]

12. You know before this * cabal came along I could honestly say I hated

nothing or nobody, but today I loath the preznit and all his men/women. I don't like this feeling of hate btw either.

[salin]

17. Meanwhile lets push Tort reform, and make it harder

for individuals or survivors to seek any grievance. Let's make their be NO cost to corps for intentional safety hazards, and pretend this is done to somehow benefit citizens -cuz we are the party cloaking ourselves in God and Values - which in GOP speak means Our God doesn't Value plebians - Our God Only values the Powerful/wealthy.

Back to point, this was written in 2002 - we would have heard if OSHA had been gutted, but probably wouldn't hear much if some of the other restrictions/frittering away had been passed. Anyone know what has happened between the writing of the above and today?