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WSJ editorial board member Jason Riley on Thomas Perez as next Secretary of Labor.
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-- By another big story today just about next thirty minutes -- -- -- President Obama will come out expects to dominate Tomas Perez current assistant US attorney general to take the place of double so -- as the -- labour secretary.
This nomination could start some controversy on Capitol Hill joining us now with reaction as wall street journal editorial board member.
Jason rally -- you get first -- of construction thank you very much mr.
itself for the floor all right so the controversy surrounds.
What Jason -- -- concerns that this is gonna be an overly active secretary labor mr.
press well look internally -- record at justice the Obama administration instituting the fact that he oversaw some peril lending settlement follows at the Justice Department.
But they're not talking about the methods he used.
And settling these -- market is an example she uses something called disparate impact which is -- way basically using statistics to prove discrimination so.
If more blacks are being denied -- month than whites it's automatically racial discrimination more black kids are being suspended.
By -- school -- white kids it's automatically racial discrimination -- doesn't matter the specifics of the case don't matter it's just the outcome that matters.
What about how could he applied that that thinking.
In his job as labor secretary it will would be the impact there.
Well the government.
Can shame businesses -- and shame.
Districts in terms of school districts the government out wields up.
A lot of authority and a lot of moral suasion and so even the -- The fact that you can bring attention to certain situations or the threat of government action is enough sometimes and the problem here is that it doesn't always have -- intended.
A fact I mean if you're forcing banks alone.
To people who can afford to pay them back right if people are going to be saddled were foreclosed homes and pour credit ratings at the end of the day that is not.
A benefit to the people who are intended to be benefited by -- -- I think it does bring up a practical political question you know the -- point of what effect do not have this that the Republicans already put up a pretty good fight for some of the other.
Obama nominees do they wanna go down that road again is it worth it to fight the labour secretary well so why -- Chuck Grassley the senator from Iowa certainly thinks so and that's because.
Not only does press wanna use this disparate impact analysis he does not want.
The Supreme Court to rule on its constitutionality.
And there was a case last year involving -- Saint Paul, Minnesota which had a case pending before the Supreme Court.
Would've given the -- chance to take a shot at this disparate impact tell us whether or not it's constitutional and there are some evidence that justice got involved.
And persuaded the city to withdraw the case so I think Chuck Grassley wants to ask -- about that my hope the summit.
Delta and us on this in this might be a little bit more exciting confirmation process for.
And leverage second and deservedly just write -- -- was seen in the past what else would you be looking for what else should they ask.
About prices background.
While it's.
I think -- emblematic.
An administration that wants to use the rule of law -- reluctantly to help some people.
Instead of others and and to use statistics.
Selectively for example the same statistics that might show that blacks -- -- -- -- lower rates right than whites which Charlotte -- received loans at lower rates and patients but no one is accusing the banks of being anti white or they might sort of black banks also deny blacks homes at our home -- for higher rates.
And so you can't if you wanna use statistics you can't use them selectively and and and there is a propensity for this administration go down that road I hope the senate.
Delves into the practice that was your -- the president later this hour but good start to the conversation thank you -- think it's great seeing things come back very thing.
