Andy Puzder, 66, has been nominated as Labour Secretary.
He is CEO of Hardee's and Carl Jr fast food joints who has a mix of ideas. Most of the news coverage has focussed on his opposition to the minimum wage. But this distorts his position. He is against a $15/hr minimum wage as disincentive to small business and job creation.
Donald Trump has made some statements that he might support a $10/hr minimum, so this seems to be a matter of what the rate should be rather whether to raise the rate. This is largely a State prerogative, in any case, some States having passed the higher rate, and it is the highest rate of Federal or State the applies. I think splitting the difference at $12.50/hr.. or a $25M/annum might meet living standards above poverty level as the base. All this is critically dependent on developing a system of tariffs that do not allow these jobs to move offshore in response.
Puzder has some more progressive ideas on illegal aliens. He's indicated support of some kind of legal status that would allow them a type of 'guest worker' status WITHOUT a path to citizenship, which would remain open solely to Landed Immigrants who have applied for legal entry from a foreign residence. This would not give and advantage to people who have jumped the cue and entered illegally.
Importantly it would bring the illegals under federal wage and labour laws and prevent their exploitation. It also recognizes that they have become indispensible to the agricultural, construction and hospitality industries. They would not be deported provided they obeyed the law and payed their taxes.
A lot of the other media focus has been on an add that Carl Jr's put out for one of its burger with 3 buxom beach blond bimbos in bikinis promoting the '3-Way' Burger. I loved it. I'm sure Donald did too, just to stuff a Carl Jr. pie in the face of feminists, who were so outraged by his Access Hollywood video.
