(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Cuts in U.S. Labor and Education Department funds and controversial Republican “Social Issue” demands dominated the discussion and angered Unions and Democrats as House members crafted the money bill for the two departments, plus the Health and Human Services Department, for the fiscal year starting October 1st.

The measure passed on a partisan 3-to-25 vote in the House Appropriations Committee on July 10th and is headed for the House floor, where the ruling Republicans hold a narrow edge.

It’s also virtually dead on arrival in the Democratic-run Senate, setting up more showdowns over spending later this year.

One big cut - by a third - would be at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The Republicans on the money panel want to roll back its funds to pre-Coronavirus levels.

In the current fiscal year, the NLRB, which handles most Labor-Management Relations cases in the Private Sector, received its first actual dollar increase in a decade.

One GOP move bars the Labor Department from using any money to implement the DOL’s rules cracking down on bosses’ misclassification of Workers as “Independent Contractors” not covered by Labor Law, Workers’ Comp or jobless benefits.

Another bans the NLRB from implementing its “Joint Employer” Rule that says a corporate office and a local franchise owner are equally responsible for obeying or breaking Labor Law.

The GOP crowed protecting “Independent Contractors” would “liberate 64 million American Women, seniors, and others balancing work with family responsibilities to participate in the freelance economy,” more commonly known as the Gig Economy.

“Adequate funding for Worker protections, job training, public health and education is essential to the well-being of all Working Families, but the allocations for FY (Fiscal Year) 2025 contained in this Bill are grossly inadequate, reflecting a dangerous disregard for our Nation’s needs,” Jody Calemine, the National AFL-CIO’s new Legislative Director, wrote lawmakers.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Republican social issue demands, labor money cuts anger unions – People's World (peoplesworld.org)