Boehner to Chair House Workforce Committee

Jan. 8, 2001
Republicans chose Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, to chair the House\r\nEducation and the Workforce Committee.

Republicans chose Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, to chair the House Education and the Workforce Committee, passing over moderate Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis, a congressman with far more seniority than Boehner.

Boehner previously chaired the panel''s Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations and helped lead the charge against OSHA last year when the agency issued a letter stating it could inspect the homes of telecommuters.

The Education and Workforce Committee has OSHA oversight responsibilities and would be in the forefront of any effort to nullify the controversial ergonomics regulations.

Congressman Petri was one of a handful of Republicans who last year voted against a rider that would have blocked OSHA from issuing the ergonomics standard.

There have been intense power struggles on all of the major House committees because of six-year term limits imposed on committee chairs after the GOP took control in 1995. The bad feelings created by the competition may cost the GOP some of the unity it will need to get things done in the 107th Congress.

A statement released by Petri''s office charged that he and other Republican moderates had been "purged from House chairmanships." But Petri also pledged to work with the new chairman "without rancor and with a focus on moving positive legislation forward."

"Boehner plays the games and does a lot of behind-the-scenes things," said House Republican Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania, who lost his bid to chair the Armed Services Committee.

The competition for chairmanships has reportedly led many contenders to raise millions of dollars to help GOP candidates.

Aside from his involvement in OSHA''s telecommuting fiasco, Boehner has until now not devoted much attention to issues of workplace safety.

In a statement released after the announcement that he would chair the committee, Boehner stated one of his goals was "giving American workers access to the tools and protections they need to meet the challenges and opportunities of the New Economy."

by James Nash

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!