Bernie Sanders says he would accept Secretary of Labor position if Joe Biden asks

by



[ad_1]

“If I had a portfolio that allowed me to fight for working families, would I?” Sanders told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “Yes I would like.”

When asked if it was true that he was in the process of taking on the job of Secretary of Labor, Sanders said: “What is true is that I want to do whatever I can to protect the working families of this country who are under enormous duress right now. “

“Whether it’s in the Senate, whether it’s in the Biden administration, who knows,” Sanders added. “Well, let’s see how this plays out.”

CNN reported on Tuesday that Sanders had started a campaign to become a labor secretary in Biden’s cabinet and was seeking support from key union leaders. Sanders’ push comes amid a stepped jockey on the powerful Cabinet position from within the labor movement.

A longtime union leader told CNN on Tuesday that Sanders had personally called union leaders to ask for their support, but his overtures had met with mixed reactions. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, who is among those contacted by Sanders, favors Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for the post, the union leader said. Meanwhile, Michigan Representative Andy Levin, a Democrat who is a popular progressive, has also built a base of support among union leaders, including the Communications Workers of America, the union leader said.

In public statements and in an interview with CNN ahead of the election, Sanders spoke of his desire to lead a push from within the Senate to send an ambitious suite of progressive laws to Biden’s office.

But those plans may have been complicated by the uncertainty surrounding control of the body, after a disappointing election night for challengers in the Democratic Senate. The caucus will likely have to win both January contests in Georgia to secure a majority.

Biden’s Cabinet decisions come as President Donald Trump has yet to concede despite CNN and other networks projecting Biden’s victory. The administration has also so far refused to sign a key document needed to formally launch Biden’s transition process, while Trump continues to make a groundless claim on voter fraud.

CNN’s Gregory Krieg contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link