EXCLUSIVE — Former Vice President Mike Pence’s political advocacy group is pushing lawmakers to vote against President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary unless she disavows some pro-union stances.
Trump picked former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of labor. Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination was a surprise to some Republicans because she is seen as a pro-union populist and voted for labor legislation that conservatives vehemently oppose.
Advancing American Freedom, a group founded by Pence, released a letter on Tuesday outlining its concerns about Chavez-DeRemer. The letter, signed by the group’s president, Tim Chapman, and board chairman, Marc Short, panned her for supporting the “radical” Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act.
“Conservatives have long supported right-to-work laws as an essential part of making America the world’s most powerful economic engine in the history of mankind,” the letter reads. “Conservatives are largely unified behind an agenda of lower taxes and deregulation. Unfortunately, Chavez-DeRemer’s record stands in stark opposition to President Trump’s plan to revive the American economy.”
The PRO Act would enact sweeping changes to the employment landscape, including adjusting what kinds of workers can be classified as independent contractors. Corporations such as Uber might be compelled to place workers on their payroll instead of just paying them for the services provided by drivers.
The act would also essentially end right-to-work laws, which have been enacted in 27 states and stop unions from requiring that employees pay dues or fees. Employees who benefit from a collective bargaining agreement can be compelled to contribute to the union, according to the PRO Act.
The group also hit at her support for Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which she sponsored. They said the legislation “would have dramatically increased the power of government union bosses.”
The letter urges lawmakers to question Chavez-DeRemer over past support for legislation including the PRO Act.
“Unless Chavez-DeRemer recants her anti-free market positions, we strongly encourage you to vote against the nomination of this pro-union and anti-free market nominee for Secretary of Labor,” the letter reads. “The Conservative Movement has a strong bench of America First, pro-free market individuals, who are more than willing to serve the American people as Labor Secretary.”
Trump tried to cultivate union support while on the campaign trail. Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters union, was reportedly one of the people pushing for Trump to choose Chavez-DeRemer.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group that generally prefers a smaller government and provides research and analysis on tax and spending policy, announced its opposition to Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination in November. The group called upon Trump to rescind his nomination and, if not, for the Senate to vote against her confirmation.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has said he opposes Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination and recently told reporters that he expects 15 GOP senators to vote “no” on her nomination.
Still, other groups and Republican lawmakers appear to welcome the pick.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) Johnson congratulated her on her nomination. He said that as labor secretary, she would “fight for American workers and help restore the American dream.”
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Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, met with Chavez-DeRemer last month. Her nomination hearing will be held in the committee on Wednesday.
“Really enjoyed meeting with Lori Chavez-DeRemer,” he said on social media. “She understands the work before her and seems committed to making the Department of Labor work for the workers and for the businesses.”