There’s an excuse for everything.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the May employment situation report released today:

“Today’s increase in the unemployment rate reflects the fact that unusually large numbers of students and graduates are entering the labor market.”

For those following at home, the aforementioned “May employment situation” is the largest jump in unemployment since 1986.  That’s 49,000 lost jobs for a total unemployment rate of 5.5%.

But as EPI notes (via Mother Jones), Elaine’s “blame the kids” excuse doesn’t explain everything.

An increase in the youth labor force played a role in May’s unemployment spike. However, even if we take teenagers out of the data, unemployment still rises from 4.5% to 4.8%, a considerable 0.3% increase, and well above the 4.0% adult rate of one-year ago.

Elaine Chao is still in denial about America’s economic crisis.  What will wake her up?

Each time the Labor Department’s Inspector General issues a report exposing the agency’s wrongdoings, Elaine’s legacy keeps getting worse.

So in light of recent news reporting MSHA’s negligence in preventing the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster that killed nine people, one question remains - how will Elaine Chao be held accountable?

According to the Inspector General’s report:

MSHA was negligent in carrying out its responsibility to protect the safety of miners. […]

MSHA’s actions and inactions, taken as a whole, lead us to conclude that [the administration] lacked care and attention in fulfilling its responsibilities to protect miners.

This report flat out says Elaine’s MSHA failed in its sole responsibility: protecting miners. What this report shows is the complete failure of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Labor to hold her agency to even the most minimal standards of safety.
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