As President-elect Trump works to fill out his administration with pro-growth conservatives, he’s set to meet tomorrow with CKE Restaurants chief executive Andy Puzder, who is reportedly a candidate for Secretary of Labor.
If President-elect Trump is looking for a Labor Department leader from the private sector who knows from experience how to create jobs and spur economic growth, Puzder would be a perfect choice. Puzder’s CKE Restaurant Inc. includes some 3,300 restaurant locations in 42 states and in 28 countries, employing more than 75,000 people in the United States.
As important, Puzder has been a leader in the public policy debate over regulation and the U.S. economy. The Associated Press called him the “poster CEO for the regulatory reform effort,” as Puzder regularly writes and speaks about how misguided tax and regulatory policy out of Washington are hampering economic growth and job creation.
On top of his distinguished record in the private sector that has netted him awards such as the Food Service Operator of the Year Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association and the Golden Chain Award from Nation’s Restaurant News, among others, Puzder has been an active participant in the public policy debate, writing a number of opinion columns that outline the best path forward for America.
RealClearPolitics (Puzder): But, while the jobs numbers have improved directionally, they have not improved to the point where we can relax our efforts. We still need policies out of Washington encouraging private sector investment, job creation and the kind of economic growth that improves the lives of more working and middle class Americans. (2/12/15)
CNBC (Puzder): The truth is that the economy is failing to create jobs at anything like the pace that would signal a healthy labor market. Ignoring what’s really going on in economy will not reverse this trend. Releasing America’s entrepreneurs to do what they do best will. Our government’s increasing control over the businesses and daily lives of individual Americans has stifled that entrepreneurial spirit. We need fewer empowered bureaucrats and more unbridled entrepreneurs. (10/10/14)
WSJ (Puzder): Jobs, salaries and benefits increase when businesses thrive. If you want to give working-class Americans a path to the middle class, adopt policies that free up the businesses who want to hire them. Otherwise, you’ve merely priced people out of a job. (2/4/16)
He also chaired the Republican Party’s platform subcommittee on economy, job creation, and the debt, outlining ways that our economy can once again be an engine of growth that lifts people up and allows them to achieve the American Dream.
It’s obvious that liberals see a threat in Puzder’s clear-eyed views about how to reinvigorate the economy, and have launched an attack against him through Media Matters, one of the websites run by the failed partisan activist David Brock. Their attack piece only shows how out-of-touch these liberal groups continue to be with working Americans.
As Labor Secretary, Andy Puzder would be an invaluable asset to this new administration and a great champion for working men and women and the millions of Americans who are looking for opportunity today.
photo: Getty Images
