Era Of Red Tape Likely Over
President-elect Trump’s choice of Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder, comes from the private sector and knows the weight government over-regulation and red tape. Business Management Daily reports if he is confirmed, under Puzder, “the Department of Labor is likely to execute a sharp U-turn away from the policies and regulatory practices of the last eight years.” Puzder has served “as CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr. and other well-known restaurant brands, since 2000,” and has been a critic of a federal minimum wage increase and the concept of joint-employment. The article notes that Puzder also opposes the Obama administration’s new overtime pay rules that “would make 4.2 million more white-collar workers eligible for overtime pay,” and that he has attributed the restaurant industry’s economic difficulties on the Affordable Care Act.
What This Means For Small Business
Puzder’s selection has drawn acclaim from the business community, and it likely indicates that the new administration will pursue policies that will roll back the burden of government regulation, which disproportionately affects small businesses. Juanita Duggan, CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, said, “Small business owners are pleased that someone who knows what it takes to manage a successful company has been nominated to oversee the Department of Labor.”
Additional Reading
The Washington Times reports on the spike in optimism among the small business community in anticipation of a more business-friendly administration.
Note: this article is intended to keep small business owners up on the latest news. It does not necessarily represent the policy stances of NFIB.
