W Post: The Harm Elaine Chao Did (ideological motivation and callousness toward the less fortunate)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/31/AR2008123102958.html

Thursday, January 1, 2009; Page A12

The profile of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao could have noted a major policy change by the Labor Department on Dec. 18 that revealed Ms. Chao's extreme ideological motivation and callousness toward the less fortunate.

Extensive new regulations under the H-2A agricultural guest-worker program take effect Jan. 17. Employers will be permitted to bring in foreign workers on work visas for lower wages and fewer benefits, with less obligation to recruit U.S. workers first and with less government oversight in a program already rife with abuse.

Ms. Chao's devotion to deregulation blinded her to 65 years of lessons under agricultural guest-worker programs and to a bipartisan, labor-management agreement in Congress, known as "AgJOBS," that would address these issues with balance. Her legacy is one of harm to the nation's lowest-paid workers.

BRUCE GOLDSTEIN

Executive Director, Farmworker Justice

Washington

[theoldman]

1. Chao has been one of the worst labor secretaries we have

ever had. I am surprised that she had not been criticized more while in office.

[Zen Democrat]

2. Isn't she Mrs. Mitch McConnell?

[csziggy]

4. Yes, she is. Amazing how incestuous the Repub machine is

[theoldman]

5. Bet she married him for his power and money.

That is why Wendy married Phil Graham. Wendy admitted that she thought Phil was yucky but she married him anyway.

[aquart]

7. Then let's be kind and put them in separate prisons.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. Jesus fucking christ I hate the Bushies.

They cannot be gone soon enough. :grr:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Maybe she's also a victim of 9-11, ala Gonzo.