Dear Members,
I write to let you know that we transmitted today a letter from Executive Director Ron Wasserstein to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the nomination for BLS Commissioner: https://www.amstat.org/docs/default-source/amstat-documents/pol-bls_commissionernomination.pdf. The first sentences of the letter are these:
As the executive director of the American Statistical Association, I write to urge your scrutiny of the qualifications, track record, and public statements of the nominee to be commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While such scrutiny is always warranted and is your committee's practice, the BLS is at a critical juncture following the August 1 firing of Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, the associated attacks on the agency's leadership and staff, and the baseless accusations of rigging the numbers.
Our gratitude to the Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee for recommending such a letter and providing a draft.
Steve
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Steve Pierson
Director of Science Policy
American Statistical Association
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