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'How dare they want to save lives': Mary Miller's 'Defund OSHA' campaign makes Internet facepalm hard

Republican Representative Mary Miller recently proposed to defund OSHA in response to the agency's involvement in enforcing Covid-19 vaccine mandates

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Representative Mary Miller from Illinois' 15th Congressional District ignited a storm with her recent proposal to defund the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Miller introduced an amendment aimed at stripping OSHA of its budget and power due to its association with implementing President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandate, which she deemed "illegal and unconstitutional."

Mary Miller sided with Donald Trump's voter fraud claims after 2020 election

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) Mary Miller declared her intentions, stating, "Today, I offered an amendment to DEFUND OSHA because they tried to implement Joe Biden's illegal and unconstitutional COVID vaccine mandate. The Supreme Court had to stop OSHA from forcing 84 million Americans to get the shot. Their budget and power must be STRIPPED."

Known for her alignment with the far-right spectrum within the Republican Party, Miller, who serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and Labor, has been vocal in her support for former President Donald Trump's claims regarding voter fraud in the 2020 election, as per Reuters.

Mary Miller faces backlash over her campaign to defund OSHA

Mary Miller's call to defund OSHA didn't sit well with the Internet, as netizens flooded her post, expressing disbelief and dismay at her stance.

One said, "How dare OSHA want to save lives and prevent people from getting sick, shame on them."

Another expressed frustration, questioning the direction of the Republican Party writing, "What is wrong with you? If you don’t want to get vaccinated, do you. Republicans are always trying to defund agencies that literally protect everyone. What is happening with the Republican Party?"

"Extremists' republican who are also Anti-worker and Pro-business would love to get rid of OSHA that protects workers and working conditions. Republicans have always been Anti--workers," noted a person. 

Someone else pointed out, "You do realize OSHA regulates more things than COVID, right?" reminding others about OSHA's broader regulatory scope. 

"Oh, your corporate donors will LOVE this one! OSHA protects workers and makes sure employers provide a safe working environment. Once again, the GOP is anti-worker," said one more. 

OSHA's inception stemmed from rising concerns over workplace accidents

Established in 1971 following the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA stands as a federal agency in the US dedicated to preserving worker health and safety.

The agency's inception stemmed from rising concerns over workplace accidents, which resulted in 14,000 worker deaths and 2.5 million disabled workers annually before the bill's passing.

OSHA's impact has been significant, leading to a drastic reduction in work-related fatalities and overall injury and illness rates across various industries through stringent enforcement of workplace laws, standards, and comprehensive training initiatives.

However, the agency has recently faced heightened scrutiny due to its involvement in Covid-19-related vaccine mandates, drawing ire from some segments within the Republican Party, as per Bloomberg Law News.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia was among those calling for OSHA's defunding, accusing the agency of employing "communist tactics" to enforce vaccine mandates, according to Raw Story.

"The most important thing Republicans can do is to stop the funding of vaccine mandates," asserted Greene, adding, "Republicans voting for funding of OSHA will be voting to fund communist tactics used against the American people."