Buttigieg was phoning it in —literally.
According to a report from The Washington Free Beacon, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Portugal in September when rail contract negotiations were in a period of crisis; he called into work from 3,500 miles away.
From the Free Beacon:
Buttigieg quietly jetted off to Portugal on Aug. 29, a week before Amtrak began canceling all long-distance trips in preparation of a potentially catastrophic rail strike. The Labor Day weekend travel was a “long-planned personal trip,” a Department of Transportation spokeswoman told the Free Beacon, and Buttigieg “remained available and engaged” from Europe.
…
“As usual, while traveling on personal time he remained available and engaged on urgent issues, which in this case meant multiple calls with staff and stakeholders to work on the topic of rail labor negotiations,” the spokeswoman said. Buttigieg returned to the States on Sept. 5, as rail worker unions began prepping for a strike that would have had catastrophic economic consequences.
…
The trip gives fuel to critics who say the administration has abandoned blue-collar workers who helped put Biden in office. Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), who voted against the rail contract and has urged his party to capitalize on the administration’s failed negotiations, said Buttigieg’s decision to fly to Portugal was “a joke.”
“Pete Buttigieg will take paid vacation in Europe for days on end but doesn’t think rail workers should get more than one day of sick leave,” Hawley said.
More over at The Washington Free Beacon:
NEW: Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg went on vacation as rail unions were on the verge of a strike.
Buttigieg quietly jetted off to Portugal on Aug. 29, a week before Amtrak began preparing for a potentially catastrophic rail strike.
Via @SaysSimonsonhttps://t.co/XHGyHk7Bya
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) December 14, 2022
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