Specter sees compromise near on overtime rules [Arlen Specter thumbs his nose at conservatives.]

Forbes (Reuters) ^ | 11/20/03 | Thomas Ferraro

[TastyManatees]

Specter sees compromise near on overtime rules
Reuters, 11.20.03, 4:31 PM ET
By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A key Republican senator voiced hope Thursday that a compromise would soon be reached on an embattled proposal by the Bush administration to redefine who in the American work force has the right to overtime pay.

"I think we are on the verge of getting it done," said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who has declined to publicly disclose his possible deal, in a statement.

The U.S. Labor Department, which drafted the proposed work rules, had no immediate response.

Backers contend the proposed regulations would clarify and update often confusing and antiquated work rules. Foes warn they could cost millions of Americans their overtime pay.

A majority of the Republican-led Senate and House are on record supporting a Democratic amendment that would prevent the proposed expansion of overtime exemptions for white-collar workers such as financial planners, sales people and insurance agents under the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.

The amendment has emerged as a major roadblock as Congress seeks to wrap up its work for the year and head home before next week's Thanksgiving holiday.

Negotiators have deadlocked on whether to defy a White House veto threat and include the amendment in a catch-all spending bill for a number of federal agencies.

The White House and many Republican leaders on Capitol Hill firmly support the politically sensitive overtime plan. So do business groups. But labor opposes them.

Stakes are high since a third of the Senate, all of the House and the White House will be up for grabs in the 2004 election.

While Specter has declined to publicly discuss his possible compromise, congressional and labor sources said he has sought an outside review of the proposed regulations.

He has also suggested that Congress be given the right to approve the regulations rather than merely a chance to block them, the sources said.

The Labor Department has said that the proposed regulations could take effect within a few months, pending completion of its own review.

The senator said a compromise he recently "floated with (Labor Secretary Elaine) Chao was very, very reasonable."

Specter also said "a tremendous number of people" would lose overtime under the new regulations and that would be "a bad thing to do with the economy in its current condition."

[TastyManatees]

No. Everyone knows that Arlen Specter is no conservative. It is about time the people in his state got a chance to decide between a liberal and a conservative, as opposed to two liberals from different parties.

Tasty Manatees

[xzins]

I ask again.

Soldiers in Iraq are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are totally deployed from their homes, and are in 24 hour danger of their lives.

If these legislators want to give out overtime, why not have them start with the troops.... INSTEAD OF that paltry "SALARY" that on a 24 hour work-day comes out to about 86 cents an hour for a corporal.

[TastyManatees]

Because it is much easier to spend other people's money for them than to step up and pay a fair wage yourself!

Specter may be not long for the Senate.

Tasty Manatees

[BlackbirdSST]

If these legislators want to give out overtime, why not have them start with the troops....

HUH? I'm not aware that the legislator's, or this proposal for that matter, are to "give out" overtime. This is an assault on me and my earning's as a private Citizen and my Contract with my Employer. They want to legislate away my overtime, giving room for my Employer to thouroughly rake me over the coal's. The time for the Troop's to negotiate a better Salary arrangement is right before they sign on the dotted line. As A Vet, I was never too concerned over money while on duty, just wanted to kill and tear up stuff. I knew that was the bed I was making for myself with no illusions of it being any thing other than Service to my Country. My family understood the same. Take my overtime? I'll go back to a 40 hour week in a heartbeat, and won't lose one wink of sleep over it. Blackbird.

[xzins]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the issue is whether the state gets to determine who is salaried and who is hourly BASED on the number of hours they work.

[Smile-n-Win]

A key Republican senator

liberal = "key" ? Uh-huh, no bias here...

[TastyManatees]

"This is an assault on me and my earning's as a private Citizen and my Contract with my Employer. They want to legislate away my overtime, giving room for my Employer to thouroughly rake me over the coal's."

No, it isn't.

Please take the time to read the overtime proposal before spouting the latest party line from AFL-CIO on this rule. You can find the overtime proposal and a handy comparison chart explaining what the changes mean to you at the Department of Labor's website.

Seriously. I'm not kidding. Read the rule or even just its description before you open your mouth with one more word on it.

You will quickly notice that the rule doesn't apply to anyone but very low wage workers and those who were previously right on the line for being described as "executive, adminsitrative, or professional" personnel. According to the most reliable estimates, the rule will actually give 1.3 million more low wage workers who actually work overtime the right to be paid overtime! In addition, it's designed to simplify the current rules and enable small employers to actually determine whether they are required to pay their employees overtime BEFORE they get sued by one of the employment litigation firms that cater to disgruntled employees.

The next thing you know, some hothead will be posting EPI (an AFL-CIO front organization) estimates on Free Republic!
Tasty Manatees

[OldFriend]

Sadly, a good number of freepers aren't taking the time to become informed before they attack proposed legislation.

[BlackbirdSST]

Kinda "hotheaded" yourself I see. From your reference, “By recognizing the professional status of skilled employees, the proposed regulation will provide them a guaranteed salary and flexible hours.”

The "guaranteed salary and flexible hours" translates into, they are attempting to move me into a Salaried Position, and my hours will be flexible for my Employer, comp time over overtime as compensation.

I guess now you'll tell me I don't know how to interpret the English language? pffft! Blackbird.

[BlackbirdSST]

Sadly, a good number of freepers aren't taking the time to become informed before they attack proposed legislation.

Considering I didn't give enough personal information to describe my position, you may need to get better informed yourself. I know of what I speak, at least as this proposal has been presented and the way it will impact me. I did not know that there were hourly folk's that were not eligible for OT, that was news. Blackbird.

[OldFriend]

LOLOL.....guess the shoe fit!

[BlackbirdSST]

No, actually it didn't, which is what prompted me to point it out to you! Blackbird.

[TastyManatees]

Again, no.

Your employer is bound by Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act to pay overtime to every employee who works more than 40 hours per week. Perhaps I missed the point where the mandatory flex-time tradeoff passed Congress...why don't you find the applicable legal right of employers to "force" flex time for me!

You see, as a practicing labor and employment attorney, I was confused as to the requirements of the law, but thanks for setting me straight. Seriously. I mean it. That was a brilliant quote cherry picked from the press release. It certainly exempts employers from an act of Congress and related agency rules. Thank you very much.

In short, yes, please make an effort to increase your reading comprehension. Become knowledgeable in the subjects you spout off on before taking it upon yourself to shcool others.

By the way, did you even bother to figure out what employment category you would be in under the new proposal, or are you simply here to mouth the union line? As someone who is very familiar with the development of the rules and their applicability, I highly doubt that the Labor overtime proposal would affect you personally in any way. Before you make a broad generalization that someone's out to get your oevertime, take the time to figure out how the law would apply to you, then be specific about the outcome you are trying to avoid. Otherwise, you risk sounding like a fool ranting on someone else's behalf.

p.s. Since you are so up in arms about your absolute right to overtime, I am assuming you are not messing around at FreeRepublic.com on company time...

[BlackbirdSST]

GOD, what an idiot you turned out to be!

By the way, did you even bother to figure out what employment category you would be in under the new proposal, or are you simply here to mouth the union line? As someone who is very familiar with the development of the rules and their applicability, I highly doubt that the Labor overtime proposal would affect you personally in any way. Before you make a broad generalization that someone's out to get your oevertime, take the time to figure out how the law would apply to you, then be specific about the outcome you are trying to avoid. Otherwise, you risk sounding like a fool ranting on someone else's behalf.

Since YOU know so much about ME, set me straight. Where do I fall in all of this? Your "claim" of being a LAWYER comes as no surprise. You certainly have the attitude for the job. BTW Jerk, I don't do Unions and wouldn't know the Union Line! Blackbird.

[explorereb96]

Well first off... I want to say what this overtime bill will do to me and the healthcare system as a whole... I am a nurse... there is a severe nationwide nursing shortage... they want to make our positions salaried with no paid overtime... not only will we not get paid (ooh I would say approximately 15-20 hours a week) overtime, but we will not get paid at all for the extra work we do.. Now you may think that nurses just walk around with clipboards chatting with Doctors all day long...but walk in my shoes for a day...I guarantee you will be dead beat by hour 4 of my day.. they want to classify nursing as "Professional" and salaried... with no more new nurses wanting to get into the field and alot more going into retirement... you can forget anyone being lured into a position like this... mandatory overtime of at least 10 hours a week (because of the shortage) in a position that is salaried and not getting paid overtime or even straight time for that matter... seems to me that you can forget getting your pain shots, IV's antibiotics heck even CPR during your heart attack on time....because there won't be any nurses to do it!! I, for one, am in training in a different field already because of this issue... congrats ...

Karol

[TastyManatees]

Stop hyperventilating. Read the proposal and stop listening to the union trolls like Blackbird. If you do so, you will realize that Labor will not be changing the definition of "professional" as it pertains to nurses. You didn't mention whether you are a registered nurse or an LPN, but either way, you should be treated exactly the same after the rule goes through.

By the way, I have a very good friend who is a nurse, and she was never happy with the pay. I can't say I blame her, the hours are long and it seems like nurses aren't doing very well. I never could figure out how hospitals got them to work so much for so little.

Tasty Manatees

[Cyber Liberty]

I don't know about you two, but I'm waiting for Specter's interpretation of Scottish law on this matter before I start a fight....

[Cyber Liberty]

BTW, Manatees aren't all that tasty. Sort of like greasy frogs' legs....

[explorereb96]

Problem is I HAVE read the new proposals on it and YES Nurses ARE indeed being reclassified as "Professionals" under that proposal. I am an LPN but it makes no difference. As a matter of fact, the Home Care Company that I used to work for had already tried to classify me as a "professional" and when I reminded them that the new laws can't go into effect until actually passed by Congress etc.... they were non plussed... they are just chomping at the bit and want to see this passed so they don't have to pay overtime and put everyone on salaried positions.

[TastyManatees]

Follow the links above and read the actual rules and Labor's explanation of their applicability. Pay particular attention to the chart showing current classifications vs. the proposed changes.