Perez Overseeing Regulation Renaissance At DOL

The Department of Labor has experienced something of a rulemaking renaissance since Thomas Perez assumed control of the agency in July.  In his first three months the backlog has been substantially reduced as Perez has signed off on regulations setting veteran and disabled worker hiring benchmarks for government contractors and limiting construction workers’ exposure to silica dust, and minimum wage rights have been extended to home healthcare workers. The progress earned Perez praise from an unexpected source: the GOP. Former Homeland Security Secretary and Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge (R) called DOL’s rule-making process “a model for how government can work,” in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.