GOP's Mid-Year Spending Cut Plan Would Cripple New OSHA Rules, Solis Says

A nearly 18 percent cut in OSHA's budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 as proposed by the Republican House majority would block the agency's efforts to issue new health and safety regulations in the short term, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis told lawmakers, as she also warned of a steep drop in OSHA inspections and a spike in workplace injuries as probable results if the House-passed continuing resolution becomes law. The agency could be forced to cut perhaps 415 new hires, which would include 200 inspectors and 17 whistleblower investigators, Solis said. She added that the GOP's cuts wou