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Labor nominee a threat to right to work

Given the salacious allegations against some of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations, it is understandable how secretary of labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer has mostly flown under the radar. But from a policy perspective, Chavez-DeRemer’s voting record is concerning—especially for those who value federalism and coercion-free workplaces. For most of her political career, Chavez-DeRemer, who lost her Oregon congressional seat in November, has been a polarizing figure. The daughter of a Teamster, her soft spot for unions puts her at odds with her Republican colleagues and ...

The importance of fire safety

The Williamsport Bureau of Fire would like to give helpful tips on how Building Owners, Safety Coordinators, Landlords, and Business Owners can pass their Fire Inspection in 2025. All commercial buildings, including buildings with 3 or more apartments, are subject to inspection by the Fire Department. Exits & Egress: All exit doors should function as designed. Doors should remain unblocked. If the panic hardware is broken, please replace and fix it. All exit doors are required to be unlocked during business hours. Both leaves in a set of double doors are required to be unlocked if ...

Making US Steel great again

PITTSBURGH -- The investment firm Ancora is pushing U.S. Steel shareholders to drop the Nippon Steel merger and oust CEO David Burritt, a move that would align with President Donald Trump’s insistence that U.S. Steel stay in American hands. It is unclear from its statement how big a stake in U.S. Steel the Cleveland-based finance company currently has. In September, Trump said despite all of Nippon’s broad promises, he is still set on not having a foreign company own an American one that is so central to national security. “U.S. Steel was the greatest corporation in the world 70 ...

Is this what peace looks like?

Recently in our small synagogue in Be’er Yaakov, Shabbat, the place was packed. This is a small building, maybe 60 feet by 40 feet, looks like a pillbox. It is masonry with four windows, steel bars across each. It is modest, but very well attended. Everyone was in a good mood. The press is saying that the innocent hostages taken by murderous terrorists may be released and a ceasefire with Hamas may be at hand. During the holiest part of the dovening, called the kiddusha, sirens sounded loud and clear. The Rabbi hesitated but kept up running the service. Virtually everyone stayed. ...

Renewing tax cuts crucial

The Trump tax cuts are set to expire later this year, and that poses a real challenge for policymakers, businesses and taxpayers alike. Americans face a $4 trillion tax hike as key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunset. The stakes are too high to ignore, and it has to be done right. Failure to make most of the cuts permanent would be detrimental to economic growth, something we can ill afford. And while Republicans control the White House, House and Senate, the path is fraught with political and fiscal obstacles. For budgetary reasons, the tax reductions were made ...

Nomination to lead Department of Labor raises many questions

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) faces an uphill battle — and deservedly so. As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer has both sides of the aisle scratching heads. To call her reviews mixed would be an understatement: Her fellow Republicans aren’t keen on her pro-union voting record, and progressives don’t think she is pro-union enough. To clarify this ambiguity, U.S. Senators must ask the first-term lawmaker, who just lost reelection to her Oregon seat, some direct questions. Most importantly, senators should force Chavez-DeRemer to address ...