CLAIM vs. FACT: Bush's Record on Labor Issues

Bush Labor Secretary Elaine Chao gave a Q&A interview with the fringe-right magazine "Human Events." Not surprisingly, she offers up some nice nuggets of dishonesty:

CLAIM:
"We have been able to strengthen overtime protection for 6.7 million working Americans." - Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, 4/15/05

FACT:
According to CNN, changes to overtime rules proposed by the Bush administration will "strip overtime pay for about 6 million workers." Adding insult to injury, AP reported that "the Labor Department is giving employers tips on how to avoid paying overtime to some of the 1.3 million low-income workers" who remain eligible under the new rules. - CNN, 7/14/04; AP, 1/5/04

CLAIM:
"As much as $160 million of our budget is earmarked by Congress." - Labor Secretary Elaine Chao complaining about Congressional earmarking, 4/15/05

FACT:
Chao herself notes in the same interview that "the budget of the Department of Labor is approximately $50 billion" of which $11.5 billion is discretionary. While she tries to make $160 million sound like a lot, in reality she is complaining that giving elected representatives control of only about one percent of the Department's budget is too much.

CLAIM:
"Right now, for example, there are new jobs being created that are seeking workers and can't find them. That's because many workers don't have the skills. We need to match workers with the jobs that are available now so we can close the skills gap." - Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, 4/15/05

FACT:
President Bush has proposed at least $1 billion in cuts to job training programs since he was elected President in 2000. - Center for American Progress study, 1/20/04