Trump Names Regulation Foe to Labor Post

By John Hilton

President-elect Donald Trump has named fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder as his secretary of labor.

The nomination announced today confirms what insiders have speculated since Trump won the presidency. Puzder is chief executive of CKE Restaurants, parent of the Carl's Jr. and Hardees chains, and a financial supporter of Trump’s campaign.

The 66-year-old executive is a sharp critic of regulation. He is on record as opposing the Department of Labor overtime rule, and it’s likely he also would favor killing the fiduciary rule.

“Things would be much better across our economy if government regulators would back off,” he wrote in his blog.

In 2010, he published a book called "Job Creation: How it Really Works and Why Government Doesn't Understand It."

As one of Trump's most outspoken defenders, Puzder frequently appeared on cable news and Twitter to talk up the benefits of having a business leader in the White House.

A week after Trump's election, Puzder said he agreed with Trump's aim to ease business regulations.

"We've reached the point where overregulation is doing meaningful damage to our businesses," he said last month at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference in Las Vegas, citing high labor costs, increased health care costs and "political and social" policies as hindrances.

Trump's recent appointments have reflected his desire to turn to business leaders — who also were campaign donors. Trump tapped former WWE chief executive and top campaign contributor Linda McMahon to lead the Small Business Administration. He also selected his campaign's national finance chairman Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive and hedge fund investor, as Treasury secretary.

Puzder has visited with Trump several times since the election, including a meeting Wednesday afternoon at Trump Tower.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton has covered business and other beats in more than 20 years of daily journalism. John may be reached at [email protected].

InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton has covered business and other beats in more than 20 years of daily journalism. John may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @INNJohnH.