Auntie Maxine is up to her old ways, America. Actually, Mad Max is continuing her “always ways” — with a vengeance. Now that the Devil’s spawn is finally out of office, the loony California Democrat can focus her entire, bitter self on other people and things — like evil employers who conduct criminal background checks on job applicants.

As reported by The National Pulse, Maxine Waters (D-LOON), and Maryland Democrat Rep. David Trone introduced legislation on Thursday that would deny federal grants to businesses that conduct criminal background checks on job applicants.

Think about that, for a minute. What could possibly go wrong? I’m sure you can think of as many or more reasons than I can that suggest this is a terrible idea. Then again, Maxine Waters.

The bill, titled the Workforce Justice Act [of course] of 2012, as The Pulse noted, would amend the related grant program by introducing an “eligibility” clause (Democrats have an uncanny knack for using terms to describe stuff that more than often hurts far more Americans than it helps) for private employers who require applicants to disclose their criminal records.

What’s more, businesses aren’t even allowed to “‘inquire” about the matter with applicants or “conduct a criminal background check.” Sounds legit. [sarc]

‘‘ELIGIBILITY.—Beginning with the third fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of the Workforce Justice Act of 2021, to be eligible for an allocation under this section, a State shall have enacted and be implementing legislation that prohibits private employers from—

‘‘(A) requiring an applicant to disclose whether the applicant has a criminal record;

‘‘(B) inquiring about the criminal record of an applicant prior to a conditional offer of employment; and

‘‘(C) conducting a criminal background check on an applicant prior to a conditional offer of employment.’’

A quick trip to Mad Max’s official website provides “all you need to know” specifics about the felon-friendly bill. (Emphasis mine)

“For previously incarcerated men and women who are doing their part to reintegrate into society, the job application process is often stressful and debilitating due to the rate at which they are denied consideration for employment because of the fact that they have served time,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43).

“This legislation to ban the box would take critical steps forward to ensure that the over 70 million Americans who have an arrest or conviction record are not left behind.

By prohibiting private employers from asking about the criminal history of a job applicant prior to the extension of a conditional offer of employment, like my state of California has already done, job applicants with a criminal history will be evaluated based on their qualifications alone and have a fair shot at rebuilding and reclaiming their lives.”

“Right now, far too many justice-impacted individuals, primarily people of color, aren’t being given a fair shot at employment because of their criminal history,” said Congressman David Trone (MD-06). “When my company banned the box and hired 500 returning citizens, we saw a higher retention rate and more dependable employees. Banning the box isn’t just good for business, it’s just the right thing to do and brings us one step closer to a more just society.”

What Is ‘Ban the Box’?

Via Waters’s site:

Currently, private-sector job applicants must check off a box that discloses their criminal history when applying for a job. The presence of this “checked-box” that indicates an arrest or conviction record significantly reduces the likelihood of callbacks and job offers.

Because of this, formerly incarcerated individuals face an astronomically high unemployment rate, putting them at risk for recidivism.

Currently 36 states, the District of Columbia, and over 150 cities and counties have adopted a ‘ban the box’ policy. Fourteen states and twenty cities and counties, including Maryland and California, have extended these policies to private employment.

In 2019, Congressman Elijah Cummings’ Fair Chance Act was passed and signed into law, which ‘banned the box’ for federal agencies and contractors.

Did you catch the part where she blamed employers for recidivism of convicted felons?

Let’s run through a couple of illustrations — just for “grins.” [sarc]

Let’s pretend you’re a private employer seeking to hire a new employer. Mad Max’s legislation would ban you from even asking if an applicant has a criminal history. Let’s not only pretend your applicant does have a criminal background but while we’re pretending, let’s pretend he or she is a sex offender — of teenage girls.

And, in our scenario, let’s also pretend your attractive teenage daughter works in your business during the summer while she’s in college. I mean, what? Are you supposed to take the position that “what I don’t know can’t hurt me”? Or in this case, hurt your daughter?

In Maxine’s view? Too bad. Tough luck.

And here’s the kicker. In the above scenario, I don’t give a damn what the skin color is of any of the above pretend people — and neither should anyone else. It makes zero difference (n theory, of course). Black, white, brown, purple, chartreuse, or polka-dot.

The safety of your employees — including your daughter — is irrelevant to the “greater cause.” Secondary (at best) to making sure (convicted felons) “are not left behind.”

Thing is, it’s your job — your responsibility — to make sure convicted criminals don’t return to crime, do time, or whatever else. And if you disagree? Why it’s obvious: you’re a “racist” for refusing to hire criminals, you “white supremacist” — facts be damned.

Man, you really are “racist,” aren’t you? In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t believe every (non-conservative) black man in America should be in prison. Am I right? Shame on you.

As pathetic as those last few lines are, they illustrate perfectly how Pelosi, Schumer, Biden, Harris, Waters, and the entirety of the Democrat Party — along with the sock-puppet liberal media — think. This nonsense is liberal groupthink at its “best.”

The crazy train ride continues, America. And it will keep hurtling down the progressive-socialist track for at least the next two years.

It wasn’t all that long ago when we’d say “grab the popcorn.”

Those days have mostly given way to insanity.