March 22, 2024 |
Photo – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su – Courtesy wikipedia
In Washington, D.C., Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and six other Senate Western Caucus members sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding he withdraw Julie Su’s nomination to be Secretary of Labor.
The President nominated Su nearly a year ago in April. Su’s nomination has stalled since then with Republicans taking a hard stand against the California Democrat.
The letter cites how Su, who has been serving as Acting Secretary without Senate confirmation, has enacted policies that have inflicted such significant financial hardship on farmers, ranchers and small businesses throughout the west that many are in danger of closing forever.
In a statement, Senator Lummis said, “Julie Su has done nothing but deliver one price hike after another for family-run businesses in Wyoming and throughout the west that are already struggling under the burden of record-high operating costs due to inflation and sky-high interest rates.”
Lummis said Su has “hurt the west and it’s time for her to go.”
Senator Steve Daines of Montana said, “Julie Su is another one of President Biden’s radical nominees who poses a threat to our Montana and Western way of life. “Without ever being confirmed to serve as Secretary of Labor, Biden has allowed Su to lead this department where she has taken steps to harm our mining, ag and energy sectors as well as the economy that supports our outdoor recreation. She must be removed immediately.”
Su was originally nominated to be Secretary of Labor on February 28, 2023. The nomination has been dead in the water since then with no hope of confirmation.
Meanwhile, sheepherders in Wyoming, mostly family-run operations, that rely on H-2A visa workers have seen their businesses turn unprofitable because of regulations implemented by Su that require unrealistically high wages. The letter from the senate cites multiple failures of leadership by Wu as acting Secretary.
Before joining the Department of Labor, Su served in several top spots in California state government, including as labor secretary under Gov. Gavin Newsom.
