CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS | Gary Borders
A year after a new state law ended mandatory water breaks in Texas, a proposed federal rule would protect millions of workers from the risks caused by extreme heat, The Texas Tribune reported.
The rule would require employers to create plans to prevent heat injuries and illnesses and ensure workers get access to drinking water, rest breaks and control of indoor heat. It would apply to all employers whose businesses are under the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Last year, Texas legislators passed House Bill 2127, which barred cities and counties from passing ordinances that go farther than state law in a number of areas, including labor regulations.
That measure eliminated ordinances in Austin and Dallas that mandated water breaks for construction workers, The Tribune reported.
“Greg Abbott tried to take rest breaks away from everyday Texans, but now we’re one step closer to securing heat protections for all Americans on the job,” U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, said last week. “Employers can adopt OSHA’s proposed rule and protect their workers today.”
The proposed rule still has to go through the regulatory approval process. It likely will face opposition from industry groups.
AG’s office must collect fines from its boss
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton owes the state of Texas more than $11,000 in fines for filing late campaign finance reports, and the office he heads is now charged with collecting the money, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The Texas Ethics Commission referred Paxton’s unpaid fines to the attorney general’s office in April, according to public records. Paxton is not the only elected official who owes the state for campaign violation fines. Hundreds of candidates and elected officials together owe the state more than $700,000. His office has declined to sue to collect the unpaid fines, according to the Chronicle.
The executive director of Common Cause, a watchdog group, called the situation a clear conflict of interest.
“If I didn’t pay a parking ticket and incurred a fine as a penalty, most Texans would find it absurd if I also got to review my fine and have a role in deciding whether any action should be taken to collect that fine,” Anthony Gutierrez said.
