Conservative groups urge Puzder's confirmation for Labor secretary

Conservative groups rallied Monday to support President Trump's nominee to head the Labor Department, fast food magnate Andy Puzder, with a letter urging the Senate to confirm him as quickly as possible. The letter comes after Puzder's long-delayed hearing was set for Feb. 7.

"We believe a change of labor policy at the federal level is crucial to encourage job creation and spur economic growth. Andrew Puzder would bring a welcome, fresh perspective to the U.S. Labor Department that our country needs. Over the years, he has warned about the harmful impact of overly burdensome workplace regulation, and his firsthand experience dealing with those burdens should prove invaluable in identifying and targeting regulations that do more harm than good," the letter stated.

The letter's signers include: Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; Kent Lassman, president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute; and Adam Brandon, president of FreedomWorks, among others.

Puzder is the chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants, which owns the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. franchises. He has been an outspoken critic of federal regulations in general and in particular the Obama administration's efforts to extend the Labor Department's reach. Conservatives say that is exactly why Puzder should be put in charge.

"By making sure the Labor Department promotes deregulatory policies, Andrew Puzder can foster and encourage the business formation that makes job creation possible. Those are goals that our organizations support and all Americans can get behind," the letter said.