Texas "Death Star Bill"....

[kadee79]

How inhumane....Some of these governors really need to stop & LOOK at what they are doing.  And they also need to adhere to their own laws.... Let's see Abbott stay outside...even without working...in the sun for 4 hours with nothing to drink!  Especially down in the south part of Texas.

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation earlier this week that "poses serious health risks" to construction workers, Texas Public Radio (TPR) reports.

Per TPR, HB 2127 — known as the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act — "bars cities and counties from passing regulations that are stricter than state ones. It also overturns local rules such as ordinances in Austin and Dallas that mandate rest breaks for construction workers."

Republican State Rep. Dustin Burrows, who proposed the "Death Star Bill," insisted "the law is needed to end 'the current hodgepodge of onerous and burdensome regulations,'" but TPR notes "for construction workers in two of the state's fastest-growing cities, advocates say, it poses serious health risks."

Mario Ontiveros told TPR "he once saw a co-worker lose consciousness and fall from a ladder," and due to his previous "safety training," the Texas construction worker "was the only one on the job site who knew how to help — performing CPR and asking his co-worker basic questions to keep him conscious — until paramedics arrived, he said."

www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/texas-death-star-bill-could-leave-construction-workers-fatigued-disoriented-dehydrated-report/ar-AA1cGaHR?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=d9d046df2f86494a9bde2c3b819f438b&ei=357

[Opti]

That's awful. I hope Austin and Dallas finds a way to reverse that or nullify this bad law. From your URL,


The Texas Tribune reports:



Texas is the state where the most workers die from high temperatures, government data shows. At least 42 workers died in Texas between 2011 and 2021 from environmental heat exposure, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers’ unions claim this data doesn’t fully reflect the magnitude of the problem because heat-related deaths are often recorded under a different primary cause of injury.



Furthermore, according to TPR, "Research published in 2018 — eight years after Austin passed its rest-break ordinance — found that construction workers were 35% more likely to get a break because of the rule."


Maybe the better answer for the hodgepodge of bills is for the state to level up and grant all Texas construction workers adequate breaks and hydration. Why is treating people well so hard for these AHs?

[pulmonarymd]

Do you really think they care that this might hurt people? The cruelty seems to be the point. So much for allowing local control. Small government conservatives my ass

[Opti]

Jun 17, 2023 20:43:28 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Do you really think they care that this might hurt people? The cruelty seems to be the point. So much for allowing local control. Small government conservatives my ass

the GOP is now out in the open as the party of exploitation. The rich ones want to exploit their workers so they can buy more crap to compete with their rich buddies. 


Maybe they always were during my lifetime, its just so in my face since Trump. 

[Tennesseer]

Abbott's thought process tells him the Texas construction industry mostly employs brown people.  If they die, fewer brown people in Texas.

[NastyWoman]

Jun 17, 2023 20:43:28 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Do you really think they care that this might hurt people? The cruelty seems to be the point. So much for allowing local control. Small government conservatives my ass

Well at least now we know the reason for their pro-life heart beat laws: they are producing new workers to replace the ones they killed off.


Someone should point out to them that providing water is far more cost effective than raising human beings. And it is "kind of" faster too. It takes time for those darn kids to grow into functional adults. So next up will be the abolishment of all child labor laws...

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hold on a second. My brain is on overload, but how is this different than states not being allowed to make laws more harsh than the federal constitution? I fully disclose that I could be completely misunderstanding the base concept here. 

[pulmonarymd]

They consider snorted fetuses as “potential tax payers”. Important to replace those who die because of their callousness.

Child exploitation is clearly coming. They are already loosening child labor laws. Can’t let them get an education, they might realize they are being shit on

[busymom]

I sincerely hope the cities appeal this to the courts.  As to the construction workers, it would be a good time to call a strike.

[kadee79]

Jun 17, 2023 22:16:24 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

They consider snorted fetuses as “potential tax payers”. Important to replace those who die because of their callousness.

Child exploitation is clearly coming. They are already loosening child labor laws. Can’t let them get an education, they might realize they are being shit on

You pointed out what I was going to come back & point out....the changes in the child labor laws that is currently happening in several states.  I can't remember all of them, but Arkansas is one that stands out to me...why?...cause Sarah Sanders (Huckabee) is the governor there & as a mother I would have thought she would have more compassion for kids, but I guess not.  I think Iowa loosened theirs too & at least 1 other state...SO FAR! 

[Opti]

Jun 17, 2023 21:41:20 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Jun 17, 2023 20:43:28 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Do you really think they care that this might hurt people? The cruelty seems to be the point. So much for allowing local control. Small government conservatives my ass

Well at least now we know the reason for their pro-life heart beat laws: they are producing new workers to replace the ones they killed off.


Someone should point out to them that providing water is far more cost effective than raising human beings. And it is "kind of" faster too. It takes time for those darn kids to grow into functional adults. So next up will be the abolishment of all child labor laws...

Exactly, killing off trained workers just because you can is stupid and wasteful. Even as a crap human being you would think they could comprehend that much.

Its very Trump like though. He did not pay Polish workers at the beginning of his RE magnate career what he owed them, and he hasn't changed. If anything, he and Abbott prove money corrupts. I think better human beings, flawed as we all are, at least try to do some good with the money they have amassed. 

[Opti]

Jun 18, 2023 10:55:59 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Jun 17, 2023 22:16:24 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

They consider snorted fetuses as “potential tax payers”. Important to replace those who die because of their callousness.

Child exploitation is clearly coming. They are already loosening child labor laws. Can’t let them get an education, they might realize they are being shit on

You pointed out what I was going to come back & point out....the changes in the child labor laws that is currently happening in several states.  I can't remember all of them, but Arkansas is one that stands out to me...why?...cause Sarah Sanders (Huckabee) is the governor there & as a mother I would have thought she would have more compassion for kids, but I guess not.  I think Iowa loosened theirs too & at least 1 other state...SO FAR! 

Her kids will be able to be on her payroll at 14 for office jobs. White collar jobs for them and help to whiny businessmen who think they need 14 yrs old to work for them because they don't want to pay enough to get the labor they need. 

There was an article not too long ago how Trump asked for more and more foreign workers at Mar Lago during his Presidency. He may say America first, but we all know that is not really what he means.

[happyhoix]

Jun 17, 2023 21:37:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Abbott's thought process tells him the Texas construction industry mostly employs brown people.  If they die, fewer brown people in Texas.

I’m sure he would argue brown people are less likely to vote for him, so why should he care about them. 

He’s not the Texas governor, he’s the governor of Red State Texas. 

[happyhoix]

Jun 18, 2023 11:01:14 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jun 18, 2023 10:55:59 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

You pointed out what I was going to come back & point out....the changes in the child labor laws that is currently happening in several states.  I can't remember all of them, but Arkansas is one that stands out to me...why?...cause Sarah Sanders (Huckabee) is the governor there & as a mother I would have thought she would have more compassion for kids, but I guess not.  I think Iowa loosened theirs too & at least 1 other state...SO FAR! 

Her kids will be able to be on her payroll at 14 for office jobs. White collar jobs for them and help to whiny businessmen who think they need 14 yrs old to work for them because they don't want to pay enough to get the labor they need. 

There was an article not too long ago how Trump asked for more and more foreign workers at Mar Lago during his Presidency. He may say America first, but we all know that is not really what he means.

I was surprised when I visited Nashville’s mammoth Opryland hotel (an enormous hotel plus convention center plus water park) that nearly every employee at that hotel was foreign. The housekeeping staff appeared to be all Hispanic, and the people behind the counters at check in appeared to be Asian. Only ones speaking American English appeared to be management, security, and people running the small shops/cafes throughout the place (and that work may be subcontracted through the hotel to local franchises, because they all appeared to be branded). I’ve gone to this hotel periodically over the last 20 years for conventions and never noticed this before.  I would think in such a red state like Tennessee, and such a patriotic red city (home of country music!!!) like Nashville one of the many GOP politicians there would have had a problem with that.  Guess whatever is good for Trump is good for the Nashville economy. 

[kadee79]

Jun 18, 2023 11:21:35 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Jun 18, 2023 11:01:14 GMT -5 Opti said:

Her kids will be able to be on her payroll at 14 for office jobs. White collar jobs for them and help to whiny businessmen who think they need 14 yrs old to work for them because they don't want to pay enough to get the labor they need. 

There was an article not too long ago how Trump asked for more and more foreign workers at Mar Lago during his Presidency. He may say America first, but we all know that is not really what he means.

I was surprised when I visited Nashville’s mammoth Opryland hotel (an enormous hotel plus convention center plus water park) that nearly every employee at that hotel was foreign. The housekeeping staff appeared to be all Hispanic, and the people behind the counters at check in appeared to be Asian. Only ones speaking American English appeared to be management, security, and people running the small shops/cafes throughout the place (and that work may be subcontracted through the hotel to local franchises, because they all appeared to be branded). I’ve gone to this hotel periodically over the last 20 years for conventions and never noticed this before.  I would think in such a red state like Tennessee, and such a patriotic red city (home of country music!!!) like Nashville one of the many GOP politicians there would have had a problem with that.  Guess whatever is good for Trump is good for the Nashville economy. 

The GOP talk out of both sides of their mouths.  Who does the majority of the farm work here in the US?...it sure isn't white folks and in most places, not black either...they are mostly brown.  Those who will work hard all day...from sun up to sun down and  accept low wages for it too, and crappy living conditions.  But the GOP are also screaming about immigration...so if they cut off the brown people from coming here, they are going to be shooting themselves in the foot.

US citizens can't afford to work at MAL due to the low wages & high cost of living in the area...so they would have to live outside the area, but pay for transportation which is also expensive in that area.  DT has used foreign workers during the "season" (winter) for years.

[Opti]

Jun 21, 2023 12:11:21 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Jun 18, 2023 11:21:35 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

I was surprised when I visited Nashville’s mammoth Opryland hotel (an enormous hotel plus convention center plus water park) that nearly every employee at that hotel was foreign. The housekeeping staff appeared to be all Hispanic, and the people behind the counters at check in appeared to be Asian. Only ones speaking American English appeared to be management, security, and people running the small shops/cafes throughout the place (and that work may be subcontracted through the hotel to local franchises, because they all appeared to be branded). I’ve gone to this hotel periodically over the last 20 years for conventions and never noticed this before.  I would think in such a red state like Tennessee, and such a patriotic red city (home of country music!!!) like Nashville one of the many GOP politicians there would have had a problem with that.  Guess whatever is good for Trump is good for the Nashville economy. 

The GOP talk out of both sides of their mouths.  Who does the majority of the farm work here in the US?...it sure isn't white folks and in most places, not black either...they are mostly brown.  Those who will work hard all day...from sun up to sun down and  accept low wages for it too, and crappy living conditions.  But the GOP are also screaming about immigration...so if they cut off the brown people from coming here, they are going to be shooting themselves in the foot.

US citizens can't afford to work at MAL due to the low wages & high cost of living in the area...so they would have to live outside the area, but pay for transportation which is also expensive in that area.  DT has used foreign workers during the "season" (winter) for years.

I thought you were aware of the fact Mar Lago regularly turns down Florida residents of any skin color for spurious reasons. They could hire Americans. They don't want to. I think it may have been stated in an article part of the thought process is foreign workers can be gotten rid of easily because their visa expires. Also if they are not familiar with America they might not know their rights and put up with worse treatment in the course of their employment. Sadly there are way too many AG employers that do similar. (AG - agricultural)

[saveinla]

This is very sad especially as you see the temperatures this week in Texas.

[Tennesseer]

Mar-a-lago hires foreign workers who come here on work visas.  If they were to leave their employment at Mar-a-lago, their work permit would not allow them to work anywhere else in the U.S.  Plus the work is seasonal.

[kadee79]

Jun 22, 2023 21:14:37 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Mar-a-lago hires foreign workers who come here on work visas.  If they were to leave their employment at Mar-a-lago, their work permit would not allow them to work anywhere else in the U.S.  Plus the work is seasonal.

I've "heard", but have not seen proof...that DT charges them for meals & lodging too so they make very little by the time they have to go home.

Someone should investigate that & publish the results.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 23, 2023 20:26:33 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Jun 22, 2023 21:14:37 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Mar-a-lago hires foreign workers who come here on work visas.  If they were to leave their employment at Mar-a-lago, their work permit would not allow them to work anywhere else in the U.S.  Plus the work is seasonal.

I've "heard", but have not seen proof...that DT charges them for meals & lodging too so they make very little by the time they have to go home.

Someone should investigate that & publish the results.

Not sure the link will work. Let's see.

Mar-a-lago foreign workers

[djAdvocate]

Jun 24, 2023 11:41:04 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jun 23, 2023 20:26:33 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

I've "heard", but have not seen proof...that DT charges them for meals & lodging too so they make very little by the time they have to go home.

Someone should investigate that & publish the results.

Not sure the link will work. Let's see.

Mar-a-lago foreign workers

link works for me!