David Jackson

USA TODAY

Preparing to make public appearances Thursday in Ohio and Iowa, President-elect Donald Trump nominated restaurant chain executive Andy Puzder to be Labor secretary.

"Andy will fight to make American workers safer and more prosperous by enforcing fair occupational safety standards and ensuring workers receive the benefits they deserve, and he will save small businesses from the crushing burdens of unnecessary regulations that are stunting job growth and suppressing wages," Trump said.

Pudzer said he and Trump believe "that the right government policies can result in more jobs and better wages for the American worker."

Puzder — the CEO of CKE Restaurants, which owns the fast food restaurants Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s — also worked as a Trump campaign adviser and is a major critic of what he calls unnecessary federal regulations, including a proposed hike in the federal minimum wage.

Who has Trump picked for his Cabinet so far?

Puzder has been a particularly vocal opponent of raising the minimum wage, expanding overtime to more American workers, and implementing the Affordable Care Act, which forces businesses with at least 50 employees to provide health coverage.

Labor unions and Democrats denounced the pick, saying Puzder is much more interested in the rights of management than labor. They pledged a fight during the Senate confirmation process.

Puzder's selection is "the surest sign yet that the next Cabinet will be looking out for the billionaires and special interests, instead of America’s working class," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Schumer also noted that Puzder's businesses "have repeatedly violated labor laws."

A federal judge recently blocked a new Labor Department rule increasing the threshold at which white-collar workers are exempt from overtime pay from $23,660 to $47,476 while he considers a broader challenge to it. The rule, which was expected to take effect Dec. 1, would have made an additional 4.2 million Americans eligible for overtime pay.

Labor is appealing the judge’s ruling, but Puzder’s appointment could make it more likely the department will drop the appeal.

“While it’s too soon to say what Puzder would do as Labor secretary — if he is confirmed — there is nothing in his record or his public statements to indicate that he would lead in developing policies and enforcement strategies to generate higher wages and better quality jobs for America’s workers,” Lawrence Mishel, president of the liberal Economic Policy Institute said in a statement.

Trump himself conducted another set of job interviews Thursday morning before heading to Columbus, Ohio, for a private meeting with victims and first responders to last week's attack at Ohio State University.

The president-elect then heads to Des Moines for the latest stop in his "Thank You Tour" of Iowa and other states that gave him his Electoral College win.

The trips come as Trump mixes it up with an Indiana labor leader and as aides braced for what might contentions confirmation hearings for Scott Pruitt, the president-elect's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Scott Pruitt, Trump's pick to head the EPA, has sued the EPA

Democrats and environmentalists cited the fact that, as Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt has sued the agency he has been tapped to lead, and they cited his association will big oil and other energy companies.

Outgoing Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said that Pruitt "has fought on the side of big polluters and special interests over the health of the people of his state. He has sued the EPA to overturn common-sense public health protections, and he stands with climate deniers."

Business groups praised the Pruitt pick, saying that unnecessary regulations are costing them jobs.

Jay Timmons, CEO of president of the National Association of Manufacturers, said the Pruitt pick signals that Trump "will end the EPA’s regulatory assault on manufacturers. This is the type of change manufacturers voted for, and we’re hopeful the next administration will strike the right balance between environmental stewardship and economic growth."

In formally announcing Pruitt's nomination on Thursday, Trump said he would cut back regulations that have hurt agriculture to energy.

"For too long, the Environmental Protection Agency has spent taxpayer dollars on an out-of-control anti-energy agenda that has destroyed millions of jobs, while also undermining our incredible farmers and many other businesses and industries at every turn," Trump said.

Pruitt will also focus on "EPA’s essential mission of keeping our air and our water clean and safe,” Trump said.

In accepting the nomination, Pruitt said "the American people are tired of seeing billions of dollars drained from our economy due to unnecessary EPA regulations, and I intend to run this agency in a way that fosters both responsible protection of the environment and freedom for American businesses."

Carrier union leader: Trump's attack means I'm doing my job

Trump also engaged in social media combat with a labor union leader.

Chuck Jones, president of a United Steelworkers local in Indiana, criticized Trump for overstating the number of jobs that would be saved via a tax agreement with the Carrier heating and air conditioning company.

Trump fired back with a pair of tweets: "Chuck Jones, who is President of United Steelworkers 1999, has done a terrible job representing workers. No wonder companies flee country! ... If United Steelworkers 1999 was any good, they would have kept those jobs in Indiana. Spend more time working-less time talking. Reduce dues"

Jones said the attacks show he is doing his job (and that he is now receiving death threats).

United Steelworkers responded with a tweet of their own to Trump: "Chuck is a hero not a scapegoat: you, others know about Carrier because of his, members' tireless work since day 1 to save ALL jobs there."

Contributing: Paul Davidson