Working really hard for the average guy by cutting his pay
Bush's nutty proposal defeated.
U.S. Senate defeats overtime pay rules
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040505-123851-1858r.htm
Washington, DC, May. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Republican senators have
frustrated President George Bush by voting down new Labor Department
rules concerning white-collar overtime pay.
The Senate voted 52-47 to scrap new rules that would redefine
what constitutes overtime, the Washington Post said Wednesday.
Five moderate Republicans broke party ranks to vote with nearly
all Democrats in favor of keeping the administration from cutting
anyone's overtime pay.
The dispute over overtime pay began last year when the Labor Department
proposed the first comprehensive updating of the rules in 50 years,
including broadening coverage for low-paid workers but cutting back on
eligibility for those who are better paid -- as many as 8 million people,
according to Democrats.
Last month, under pressure from Democrats, the department rewrote its
proposal, reducing the number of workers who might lose their overtime
pay.
In the revision just rejected, workers could still qualify for overtime
if they make as much as $100,000 a year, instead of $65,000, as initially
proposed. Police, firefighters and other first responders were also
protected, and eligibility for low-income workers was also expanded.
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