In Major Victory for American Workers, Senate Blocks Confirmation of Radical Academic David Weil

Late Wednesday night, the United States Senate voted 47-53 against a procedural motion to advance radical academic David Weil’s nomination as Wage and Hour Administrator.

Weil’s well-earned defeat makes him the first Biden nominee to fail a floor vote. Weil previously served as Wage & Hour Administrator under President Obama.

All 50 Republicans voted against Weil. Three Democrats broke ranks and voted against Weil: Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). Despite enormous pressure from the left and Big Labor, these Democrats stood up for their constituents and the business models they rely on to put food on the table.

If Weil were confirmed, it would have been a disaster for American families, workers, and small businesses. Weil would have used his power to enact the job-killing PRO Act by executive fiat, including imposing a California-style ABC test that would have forced millions of independent contractors to reclassify as W-2 employees. Weil’s persistent attacks on franchises would have threatened the livelihoods of more than 7.6 million Americans that work at over 733,000 franchise establishments.

Luckily, thanks to Republicans and these select few Democrats, Weil will never set foot in the Wage and Hour Division again.