Trump, GOP leaders rally to support Labor nominee Andrew Puzder

WASHINGTON — The White House and congressional Republicans are rallying around Labor secretary nominee Andrew Puzder after he admitted employing an undocumented housekeeper for years.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday that President Trump’s administration strongly backs Puzder and wants him to remain the nominee.

McConnell said he also continues to back Puzder, whom he called “an outstanding choice.”

“He realized the mistake, he fixed it, and, I think, is imminently qualified for the job,” McConnell said. “And for myself, I’m enthusiastically in his camp.”

Puzder, who lives in Franklin, Tenn., and is the chief executive officer of a fast-food company, disclosed late Monday that he and his wife had employed an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper for a number of years.

“When I learned of her status, we immediately ended her employment and offered her assistance in getting legal status,” Puzder said in a statement. “We have fully paid back taxes to the IRS and the State of California.”

Puzder’s admission could further complicate his confirmation hearing, which already has been delayed four times while he works to divest divests his assets from his fast-food empire.

Similar revelations have sunk some previous nominees over the years, while others have weathered the controversy and gone on to win confirmation.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who heads the committee that will hold Puzder’s confirmation hearing, said Puzder’s admission shouldn’t automatically derail his nomination.

“Based upon what I’ve learned, since Mr. Puzder reported his mistake and voluntarily corrected it, I do not believe that this should disqualify him from being a cabinet secretary,” said Alexander, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

In reiterating his support for Puzder, McConnell complained that “we’re always looking for nominees who’ve never made a mistake.” Frequently, it’s hard to find such a nominee, he said.

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Puzder’s critics, however, suggested his explanation of the events was inadequate.

“Eight weeks and four canceled hearing dates since his nomination was announced, we still have yet to see a single shred of paperwork from Mr. Puzder — but what we have heard is story after story about how he spent his career squeezing workers for profit, leaving many with lost wages, no financial security and no retirement,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate labor committee.

“Simply put,” Murray said, “Mr. Puzder’s nomination is a broken promise to the workers President Trump said he would put first, and if Mr. Puzder ever does come before our committee, he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do.”

The National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group for lower-wage and unemployed workers, said Puzder’s statement raised more questions than it answered.

Whether his housekeeper was documented or not, “Mr. Puzder had a legal obligation to pay payroll and other employer taxes,” said the group’s executive director, Christine Owens. “Her immigration status makes no difference.”

“By his own admission, Mr. Puzder was employing her off the books — which he surely knew was illegal,” Owens said. “Why would he keep her off the books unless he thought he could get away with it? And why would he think he could get away with it unless he knew she was undocumented?”
Puzder’s explanation “strains credulity,” Owens said.

“How can anyone — especially members of the U.S. Senate — still think he is qualified to lead the Labor Department?” she asked.

Puzder already has been under fire from labor unions and other groups over his opposition to raising the minimum wage and over questions about low wages and other workplace practices at his restaurants. He also criticized a now-halted rule enacted under President Obama that would have expanded eligibility for overtime pay to 4 million Americans.