Chao Down
February 14, 2008
American Rights at Work launched a groundbreaking campaign this week exposing Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao’s dismal record through ShameOnElaine.org. Unlike her cohorts in the Bush administration, Elaine Chao has escaped much-needed public scrutiny of her time on the job. From littering the Labor Department with individuals with blatant corporate agendas to dismantling worker safety protections and collaborating with her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Elaine has disgraced her role as Secretary of Labor. You’ll be outraged over what Elaine’s been up to instead of serving America's workers:
- Hired a former colleague from the Heritage Foundation who actually wrote a report titled "How to Close Down the Department of Labor."
- Cut over 100 inspectors at MSHA and, as a result, hundreds of mines weren’t inspected and tragedies such as Sago and Crandall Canyon might have been prevented.
- Had Chao-themed coins, lanyards, and fleece blankets printed at taxpayer expense.
- Failed to issue a rule requiring employers to pay for their workers’ safety gear — contributing to 400,000 workers injured and 50 dead.
- Had an auditorium named in her honor — thanks to her husband’s $14.2 million earmark to enhance the Mitch McConnell Center at his alma mater, the University of Louisville. Of course, Elaine never attended the university.
As The Nation points out, all of this was paid for by American workers. Take a look for yourself at ShameOnElaine.org for plenty more examples of Elaine’s failures as Secretary of Labor, and please join the effort to restore the Department of Labor as an agency run on behalf of America’s workers.
