Punching In: Labor Enforcement Agenda Rests on Democratic Bill

Monday morning musings for workplace watchers

DOL Dollar Dig | AWOL Guidance

Ben Penn: It’s becoming clear that the Democrats-only reconciliation legislation is the likeliest path for the Biden administration to beef up labor agency enforcement.

President Joe Biden’s proposal to increase fiscal 2022 dollars on worker protection agencies won’t necessarily get approved through the regular appropriations process, with Democrats holding slim majorities in both chambers. The bipartisan infrastructure bill the Senate passed last week was silent on U.S. Labor Department spending, despite financing many new construction jobs that would hand DOL an expanded enforcement mandate.

This leaves reconciliation as ...