South Dakota Democratic Party Issues Statement on Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta Visiting Sioux Falls Today

PIERRE, S.D., Aug. 4 -- The South Dakota Democratic Party issued the following statement by Sam Parkinson, Executive Director on the Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta visiting Sioux Falls today:

"Secretary Acosta is attending a conference on workforce development; unfortunately the administration he serves in seems determined to make life harder for working families who make up the workforce in South Dakota and around the country. Under Sec. Acosta, the Department of Labor has reversed important pro-worker rules regarding transparency, liability, and overtime protections. On top of weakening federal rules meant to protect workers, the Trump budget aims to weaken the Department of Labor itself by proposing to cut the Department's budget by 20 percent and job training programs - essential to workforce development - by 40 percent. Further, attempts by President Trump and Republicans in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act would have devastated workers by taking away their health care or driving up the costs of their health care. If all that wasn't enough, next on the Republican agenda in Washington is pushing for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires at the expense of working families.

"While Republicans in Washington and in Pierre pursue anti-worker agendas, Democrats are fighting to increase economic fairness, opportunity, and security for working families through policies like paid sick and family leave, protecting and expanding affordable health care, and affordable housing. Democrats believe when working families succeed, America succeeds."