Democrats Intensify Legal Scrutiny of DOL’s Gig-Worker Proposal

Democratic lawmakers and state attorneys general are amplifying attacks on the Labor Department’s proposal on independent contractor status, using requests to extend an abbreviated public comment period to preview a potential legal challenge.

In recent days, Democratic coalitions of 17 senators and attorneys general from 21 states plus the District of Columbia submitted letters to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia that criticized the agency for only providing 30 days to receive public input on its major proposed rule. Released Sept. 22, the proposal gives employers a simpler legal framework to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees, who are ...