Washington prepares to take on portable benefits

Politico

07-07-2025

QUICK FIX
BENEFITS YOU CAN KEEP: Congress is finally getting into the portable benefits game.
Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are up with three bills aimed at providing workers the flexibility to carry their benefits from one job to another.
The proposal comes after the committee spent months gathering input from business groups before ultimately releasing a framework for what portable benefits legislation could look like.
Here's what's in the bills.
What to watch for: Labor groups are fiercely opposed to portable benefits plans, which they say are inferior to traditional employer-provided plans, even as Democratic-led states advance legislation aimed at shoring up benefits for gig workers.
The Wisconsin AFL-CIO protested a bipartisan bill passed last month by the state legislature to make delivery drivers eligible for benefits without making them employees, with its president Stephanie Bloomingdale calling the legislation 'an attempt to deprive workers of important rights to which employees are entitled.'
However, Cassidy is encouraged by the progress he's seen in the states and hopes that Democrats in Congress will eventually hop on the bandwagon. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have previously signed onto legislation aimed at expanding the Labor Department role in facilitating portable benefits.
Lawrence has more for Pro subscribers.
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AROUND THE AGENCIES
BIG OOPS: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week seemingly leaked who the White House planned to tap to serve on the National Labor Relations Board, our Daniel Lippman wrote in Playbook.
'In the lead-up to the long Independence Day weekend, the White House today announced several much-anticipated appointments of two members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): Scott Mayer, Chief Labor Counsel at The Boeing Corporation, and James Murphy, a former career official with the NLRB,' the Chamber wrote in an email.
The Chamber sent out an email 15 minutes letter telling recipients to disregard their previous message. A White House official told Playbook that no selection has been made, while Mayer and Murphy did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the Chamber acknowledged the error was a mistake but declined to comment on the mishap.
More agency news: 'Trump wants more skilled tradespeople. His Labor Department is trying to cut off a pipeline of workers,' from CNN.
Even more: 'Workers died in high heat as OSHA debates protections,' from Ariel Wittenberg for POLITICO's E&E News.
ANOTHER ROLLBACK: The Trump administration will no longer pursue a Biden-era effort to end the subminimum wage for disabled workers.
DOL announced in a filing that the administration doesn't have the authority to halt granting 14(c) certificates — which allow employers to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage.
House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) expressed support for the move.
'These programs make it easier for job creators to employ individuals with disabilities, empowering them to contribute to their community and build a satisfying life,' Walberg said in a statement. 'I am proud to work with the Trump administration in our continued effort to expand—not limit—opportunities for every American to thrive.'
Nick has more.
Unions
JOINING THE FRAY?: A second Philadelphia public-sector union is planning on holding a strike authorization vote after a major group walked off the job recently, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Roughly 9,000 workers represented by AFSCME District Council 33 announced a work stoppage after stalled negotiations with Mayor Cherelle Parker prompted the union — which represents trash collectors and other city workers — to strike.
Although DC 47 has a more complicated structure that could make striking more difficult, a second work stoppage could have a major effect on city operations as Philly grapples with overflowing trash cans.
THUMBS DOWN: Several unions panned Trump's megabill, which was signed into law by the president's self-imposed Independence Day deadline.
'Today, Donald Trump signed into law the worst job-killing bill in American history,' AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler wrote in a statement. 'It will rip health care from 17 million workers to pay for massive tax giveaways to the wealthy and big corporations, amounting to the country's largest money grab from the working class to the ultra-rich.'
In separate statements, United Auto Workers called the legislation a 'gut punch' and the American Postal Workers Union said the bill is a 'crushing blow' to families.
More union news: "A second union for Philadelphia city workers is holding a strike authorization vote,' from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Even more: 'Safeway strike ends as Albertsons and local union reach agreement,' from Colorado Public Radio.
In the Workplace
WORSE THAN YOU THINK: Business leaders are becoming increasingly adamant about predictions that artificial intelligence could eliminate swaths of white collar jobs.
'In interviews, CEOs often hedge when asked about job losses, noting that innovation historically creates a range of new roles,' WSJ's Chip Cutter and Haley Zimmerman write. 'In private, though, CEOs have spent months whispering about how their businesses could likely be run with a fraction of the current staff.'
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that government and CEOs need to be honest how disruptive the technology will be amid growing projections that many firms may begin cutting entry-level jobs that could push unemployment rates between 10 percent and 20 percent.
Related: 'Don't let AI steal your job,' from Vox.
More workplace news: 'America has two labor markets now,' from Axios.
IMMIGRATION
WAITING GAME: Foreign medical residents who fill jobs in U.S. hospitals are unable to start their assignments due to the Trump administration's visa and travel restrictions.
The administration lifted its pause for J-1 visa interviews. But four foreign medical residents told the AP that U.S. embassies have been slow to offer interview slots. The U.S. is likely to face a physician shortage in the next 11 years, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
The Associated Press has more.
WHAT WE'RE READING
— 'How Trump's megabill could slam the job market,' from our Sam Sutton.
— 'How Health Care Remade the U.S. Economy,' from The New York Times.
— 'Companies keep slashing jobs. How worried should workers be about AI replacing them?' from the Los Angeles Times.
THAT'S YOUR SHIFT!