Skip to content
menu
search
Video

Why Penny Pritzker is a Terrible Choice for Commerce Secretary

Miles Kampf-Lassin

Billionaire business tycoon and former Obama fundraiser Penny Pritzker appears headed for confirmation as commerce secretary, despite concerns about her business dealings. Pritzker and her family owned Superior Bank, a Chicago-based firm that collapsed after the Pritzkers expanded subprime lending. With net worth of more than $1.5 billion, Pritzker stands to be one of the wealthiest Cabinet secretaries in history. Her family started the Hyatt Hotel chain, which has come under scrutiny for her clashes with labor unions. The AFL-CIO says Hyatt has exhibited a broad pattern of labor abuses, including aggressive outsourcing, low wages and the mistreatment of housekeepers. ITT Senior Editor David Moberg discusses on Democracy Now!.

Miles Kampf-Lassin is Senior Editor at In These Times. Follow him at @MilesKLassin

Have thoughts or reactions to this or any other piece that you'd like to share? Send us a note with the Letter to the Editor form.
More articles by Miles Kampf-Lassin
LaborViewpoint
Rise and Unwind
We all work too much. Let’s take up the fight for more freedom and less time on the job.
Miles Kampf-Lassin
ViewpointPolitics
The New DNC Chair Should Put the Working Class at the Center of the Democratic Party
To counter the tech oligarchy of Trump’s second term, Democrats need to offer a clear message: no to corporate power and economic elites, yes to more democracy and worker organizing.
Miles Kampf-Lassin
Interview
'We Don't Have The Luxury Of Giving Up'
Five movement organizers discuss the dangerous terrain of a second Trump term—and the critical task of building working-class power.
Miles Kampf-Lassin
Similar articles
A sign in the foreground says "UNCOMMITTED" in red with Arabic text above, and a small image of a ballot with "uncommitted" checked and Biden unchecked. In the background is a woman in a hijab.
PalestineElection 2024Video
Video: Can Kamala Harris Find Voters In Dearborn?
"People here have families that are originally from the exact towns and villages that are being bombed with American weapons."
Afeef Nessouli
ViewpointVideo
The Chicago Mayoral Race Is High Stakes for Working People
In a new video, workers speak out against Paul Vallas’ destructive record on budgets and public education.
Miles Kampf-Lassin
Get 10 issues for $19.95

Subscribe to the print magazine.

Subscribe Now