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    Biden Administration hampered in rolling out COVID-19 workplace protections

    Joe Maniscalco, DC Report @ Raw Story
    January 27, 2021

    Thanks for your support!

    This article was paid for by reader donations to Raw Story Investigates.

    US says support for Taiwan 'rock-solid' as Chinese jets buzz island
    Joe Biden

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    Joe Maniscalco, DC Report @ Raw Story

    U.S. workers continue to get sick and die from COVID-19 largely because the Trump White House refused to safeguard them with federally enforceable protections.

    That isn't going to change immediately under President Joe Biden's executive order aimed at Protecting Worker Health & Safety because rules made by Congress say it takes time to implement life-protecting policies.

    The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) should have moved months ago to establish an "emergency temporary standard" governing workplace protections in the time of COVID-19.

    The Trump Administration did very little to protect people. Trump left office with no plan to distribute the vaccines for which Trump claimed credit.

    Because of the incompetence, delays and inaction by Team Trump the pandemic has already killed more than 425,000 people in the U.S.—more Americans than died in World War II. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention now predicts the death toll will reach 500,000 people by March 1 and that deaths will continue for months to come.

    Teamsters Union Plan

    On Jan. 19, Trump's last full day in office, the Teamsters released a set of national legislative priories that include strengthening OSHA's enforcement capabilities, as well as establishing a new emergency temporary standard to deal with the coronavirus. OSHA has long been under attack by corporate interests who claim it adds costs to business, cutting into profits.

    The Trump Administration did very little to protect people. Trump left office with no plan to distribute the vaccines for which Trump claimed credit.

    A year ago a new emergency temporary standard was urged by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), who chairs the House Committee on Education and Labor. In a letter to then Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, Scott said that OSHA's infectious disease standard had been left to "languish" for about a decade. "OSHA must take swift action to protect healthcare workers, and by extension, the American public," Scott wrote.

    OSHA Failing Workers

    "The safety of America's frontline healthcare workers and, by extension, the health of the entire nation will depend on OSHA's ability to ensure the safety of the nation's health care infrastructure," Scott wrote. "Absent timely action, OSHA will be failing frontline healthcare workers, its mission, and the nation."

    That sense of urgency, coupled with the botched rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program, has only grown more acute with time. Still, there is a process, and it could be another two months before OSHA, its budget well below what is needed to protect workers, establishes the kinds of enforceable workplace protections that Trump didn't enact.

    "We want more, of course — we know that there is an extreme amount of urgency," Jessica Martinez told me. She is co-executive director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, which plans to release its own national agenda for worker health and safety on Feb 3.

    "There is a process of setting a standard and we hope that it moves quickly through the bureaucracy of government," she said, acknowledging how procedural rules hinder the speed with which the Biden administration can act.

    Labor groups last year called for action from the Trump Administration. The failure to act contradicted Trump's inaugural address promise that "I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down."

    States Act on Their Own

    Several states decided not to wait for federal action. They moved earlier to expand worker protections in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. California established a new emergency standard for COVID prevention on Nov. 19. A new Virginia work-safety rule takes effect this week, but without paid leave provisions like the California law.

    Although more than 25 million cases of COVID-19 nationwide attest to the need, insiders argue that Biden is prohibited from circumventing required analysis and outright directing OSHA to establish a new emergency standard because employers would only challenge its validity in court.

    "There is nothing on paper at this point that makes any of this proposal enforceable," Martinez conceded. "Now, with that said, I think that it's important to note several factors: One is that the government has been intentional about including these guidelines — something we have not heard from the former administration. Second, there is some real leadership that has been announced — folks that have been committed many years to understand the importance of engaging workers, worker advocates and the process of putting priorities around worker safety and health."

    In addition to issuing the executive order on Protecting Worker Health & Safety on his first full day as president, Biden also tapped three people with extensive backgrounds in worker health and safety to protect workers. Jim Frederick will be OSHA's deputy assistant secretary; Chip Hughes as named deputy assistant secretary for pandemic emergency response; and Ann Rosenthal was appointed senior advisor.

    "We're hopeful that with this leadership it is a step in the right direction and there will be a more concrete commitment to making many of these processes more enforceable," Martinez added. "Also, some clear guidance in ways that allows workers to have a seat at the table."

    Interest in workplace safety and competent leadership have never and likely never will be enough to safeguard American workers, however. That is going to take the kind of "street heat" from working people that earlier this month compelled the California State Assembly to introduce a bill aimed at protecting fast-food workers and the organized labor action that secured a roughly 10% raise for members of Teamsters Local 202 working at the Hunts Point Produce Market in New York City.

    "Only strong worker participation is really going to get anyone anywhere," a congressional aide with extensive knowledge of OSHA's operations recently told me. "It's harder than just snapping fingers — nothing happens by itself in Washington."

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    Enjoy good journalism?

    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

    Raw Story is independent. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

    We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.

    Value Raw Story?

    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

    Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

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    Do you approve of Biden's presidency so far?

    WATCH: Matt Gaetz’s Potato Head joke flops at CPAC

    Bob Brigham
    February 26, 2021

    Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) pushed the culture wars during his Friday address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida.

    As Gaetz took the stage, he made a joke about not receiving such a warm welcome since he traveled to Wyoming to campaign against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) after she voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting the fatal January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

    He then complained about the backlash the Republicans have been receiving since the majority of the party joined with the insurrectionists and voted to overturn the 2020 election.

    "Many Fortune 100 companies will not donate to pro-Trump Republicans," he complained. "Some have even pulled their sponsorships of this conference. American business should be worried about business, not wokeism."

    He then complained about cancel culture.

    "Look out, Mr. Potato Head, you're next. "I'm sorry, I think now he's going by Potato-x. Can't be Mr. Potato Head -- see to me, the whole concept of the Mr. Potato Head was you could move the parts around, I mean, Mr. Potato Head was America's first transgender doll and even he got canceled," Gaetz said to a smattering of polite applause.

    Watch:

    2 26 2021 14 05 58 www.youtube.com

    Ted Cruz flayed for mocking AOC for fearing for her life – after she raised $5 million for Texas storm victims

    David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement
    February 26, 2021

    U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered what many are calling "unhinged" remarks at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, Friday.

    During his speech he once again appeared to try to incite an insurrection, attacked President Joe Biden, screamed for over a minute, closed his speech by yelling at the top of his lungs, "Freedom!" and mocked U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) who raised over $5 million for Texas storm victims – Cruz's constituents who literally struggled to stay alive in sub-freezing temperates for days without power or water while he vacationed in Cancun.

    Cruz name-checked William Wallace, who was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film "Braveheart." Wallace was a leader in the First War of Scottish Independence, and was put to death for treason. Gibson's character been described as a "nationalist guerrilla leader" in the film, so it's unclear why Cruz would be promoting him, given America faced an attempted coup last month.

    “There is a natural pendulum to politics and the country will come back to sanity and mark my words, 2022 is going to be a fantastic election year, and so is 2024, as we stand together and defend liberty, defend the Constitution, defend the Bill of Rights of every American. In the immortal words of William Wallace, 'Freedom!'" Cruz screamed.

    But before he got to that point, Cruz mocked Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez.

    Republican Tim Miller, who worked with Republicans Voting Against Trump and appears frequently on MSNBC, put it this way:

    First CPAC mention of the domestic terrorist attack on the capitol comes from Ted Cruz.
    He makes fun of AOC for being scared. — Tim Miller (@Timodc) February 26, 2021

    CNN's Jake Tapper weighed in:

    "AOC is telling us she was murdered," Cruz "jokes" to the CPAC crowd
    This was 3 days after saying people shouldn't "be assholes" (a reference to alleged friends sharing texts w reporters about Cruz family going to Cancun during the deadly storm in Texas).... 1/ https://t.co/FFpu1CzCE8 — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 26, 2021

    Democrats "control the White House," and "they control every executive branch, where they control both houses of Congress," Cruz screeched. "Bernie is wearing mittens. AOC is telling us she was 'murdered,'" he says, mocking her for accusing him of almost having her murdered because he helped to incite the insurrection.

    "And the media, desperately, desperately, desperately wants to see a republican Civil War. Liberty is under assault and what are we gonna do? I'll tell you. We will fight. Liberty," he says, once again appearing to push for insurrection.

    Watch:

    Ted Cruz made fun of @AOC for being scared during the Capitol attack that he helped to incite. #CPAC pic.twitter.com/bspJ9Ndjpo
    — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 26, 2021

    Here's how people are responding:

    NARRATOR: "@AOC raised over $5,000,000 to help the people in @tedcruz's state without power, food, and/or water, the same people Ted Cruz had blithely abandoned to lollygag by the pool at a foreign, luxury resort." #BadStandupRoutines https://t.co/Wyahstsi9U
    — Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) February 26, 2021
    AOC raised $5M for Texas winter storm relief. She is a congresswoman from New York. Cruz left town. He should keep his pie hole closed. https://t.co/keOwfp46UA
    — Lloyd Andrews (@Thunderballs2) February 26, 2021
    @tedcruz Cruz...You find what you said about AOC and Bernie funny?. You a low down, dirty, nasty, foul, and vile. It is people like you who should be put out of office. That is the White Supremacy in you. Dont worry, Democrats will continue to prevail before and after you.
    — Kenneth Stanback (@StanbackKenneth) February 26, 2021
    Honestly, no one listens to Ted Cruz. He has zero integrity, so we just consider the source. AOC has my thanks.
    — Lyn Rising 🌊💙🖤🌊 (@LynStrange) February 26, 2021
    Cruz hides his failure as a human by making fun or insulting others. Bottom line: he left the people of Texas to freeze and AOC raised millions to help them.
    — Esther Fusco (@fusco_esther) February 26, 2021

    Crutch-wielding Texas actor arrested for assaulting police at pro-Trump Capitol riot

    Sky Palma
    February 26, 2021

    An actor from Dallas, Texas, who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 and was captured on video holding a crutch as insurrectionists climbed the stairs to the Capitol building, has been arrested according to the Dallas Morning News.

    Luke Russell Coffee, 41, has an online biography that says he worked on two primetime television shows for Warner Brothers and NBC/Universal and started a production company in his hometown in 2010.

    He has been charged with assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon; interference with a law enforcement officer during civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; unlawful entry on restricted grounds; and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, the Morning News reports.

    A college classmate of Coffee's, who also happens to be an FBI agent, helped identify him. Another witnesses told the FBI that they saw video featuring Coffee discussing conspiracy theories.

    Coffee admitted to police that he was at the Capitol on Jan 6. and that he was holding a crutch but denies he used it to assault anyone.

    Watch video of Coffee at the Capitol below. He appears at around 0:36:


     
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