At a Senate confirmation hearing yesterday, Eugene Scalia---the President's nominee for Labor Department Solicitor---claimed that if confirmed he would energetically prosecute work-safety violations despite his personal objection to such regulation. Democrats, almost unanimous in their strong opposition to Scalia's nomination, honed in on the fact that in a ten-year labor law career he has represented only two workers. The outcome of a Senate vote on Scalia's confirmation will likely hinge on the decision of Senator James Jeffords, whose spokesman has stated that the senator will support the nomination.
See "Labor Nominee Knocks Work-Safety Rules", Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, October 2, 2001