Question 1- Note on page 650 of the text that one of the two goals of the Occupational Safety and Health Act is: To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. The chapter began with comments about the Obama administration's attempt to increase OSHA funding to address the practical reality of trying to physically inspect thousands of workplaces. If enforcement of this law depends on political winds, what does this imply about the viability of achieving this core legislative goal? Should OSHA's mission be abandoned or revamped, if so how? Or should the law itself be rewritten to reflect the realities of today's workplace, budgetary, and societal realities?
Question 2- The Paycheck Fairness Act, which would expand the Equal Pay Act, has been introduced several times recently but has gained no traction in the House of Representatives. What are the key provisions of this bill? Do these provisions appear to be reasonable and/or needed - why or why not? Why would the bill have almost unanimous support from one side of the aisle, and unanimous opposition from the other side? What are the economic, political, and social issues at play?