Congress is set to take the first steps today to block, through a resolution of disapproval, the final regulations of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order issued by President Barack Obama. This seemingly minor action would pose great harm to workers, taxpayers, and law-abiding businesses by threatening wages, undermining workplace safety and protections, increasing cronyism, and reducing contractor accountability.
The fate of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order—a little noticed but hugely impactful policy that requires contractors to comply with workplace laws before receiving new government contracts—does not look good because the congressional Republican leadership has long been hostile to the order. The regulations implementing the order are finalized, but a court order is preventing implementation. Initial voting on the resolution is scheduled to start today in the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives and could advance very quickly through House and Senate under the terms of the Congressional Review Act—a tool that requires only a simple majority and cannot be filibustered.
The above excerpt was originally published in CAP Action.
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