Biden Labor Nominee Faces Challenging Confirmation Process

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Facts

  • Julie Su, Pres. Biden’s nominee for labor secretary, is facing increased public opposition to her candidacy leading up to her April 20 hearing in the US Senate. She needs at least 50 votes in the Democrat-majority body, but support from all the Senate’s Democrats and independents isn’t certain.1
  • Biden in February nominated Su, the deputy labor secretary, to replace the departed Martin J. Walsh. Before she joined the Biden administration in 2021, Su, a daughter of Chinese immigrants, was California’s labor commissioner, and the head of that state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency.2
  • Last week, several Republican members of the US House expressed their opposition in a letter to Biden. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) characterized a “record of continual failure” in Su’s career and policies she instituted in California that “did nothing but harm” to the state’s workforce.3
  • Su also faces opposition from industry groups, who are focusing their campaigning against her in Montana, Arizona, and West Virginia. A coalition of lobby groups has also formed a group called “Stand Against Su” to oppose her nomination, with much of the dissent coming from her support of laws that classify some gig workers as employees.1
  • Her management of California’s unemployment claims during the heart of the COVID pandemic has also been an issue of contention.4
  • The battle over Su comes in the aftermath of the withdrawal from consideration by Phil Washington, Biden’s nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration, and Gigi Sohn, who was twice nominated by the president to serve on the Federal Communications Commission.5

Sources: 1Reuters, 2New York Times, 3FOX News, 4Daily Wire and 5Politico.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. Su is the most radical and flawed labor secretary nominee in quite some time. Beyond her mismanagement of pandemic unemployment funds, she’s an enemy of small businesses and freelancers and has radical views on border security. Even moderate Democrats can’t get behind her. This is a poor calculation by Pres. Biden, who needs to nominate a candidate who reflects more moderate, business-friendly values.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Guardian. Su is an ally of labor unions, workers, and businesses that adhere to established laws and treat their workers with respect and proper compensation. There will be many new jobs created under Biden’s infrastructure policies, and Su will advocate for and communicate with workers and businesses to make sure these jobs are solid, middle-class jobs. Attacks on her are coming from corporations that have flaunted labor laws for too long.