WaPo: In A Switch, House Rejects Bush Overtime Proposal

[CShine]

In a sharp rebuff to the Bush administration, the House reversed course yesterday and voted to oppose the White House's efforts to rewrite overtime pay rules. The action marked a significant victory for Democrats and labor leaders, who contended the administration's plans would deny overtime benefits to millions of employees when they work more than 40 hours a week.

While the 221 to 203 vote is not binding, it essentially overturns earlier House approval and puts the chamber on record as supporting the Senate, which opposes the new regulations. House-Senate negotiators trying to resolve legislation to fund the Labor Department and other agencies will have difficulty allowing the proposed overtime changes to go forward, lawmakers said.

Yesterday's vote highlights congressional Republicans' growing unease over the economy, and their increasing willingness to defy the White House on contentious issues. Seven Republicans switched their votes yesterday after supporting the GOP leadership position in a July roll call. "I just had to represent the concerns of my district," said Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), who had voted with the majority when the House voted 213 to 210 in July to back the administration. He estimated that 10,000 white-collar workers in his district would have to renegotiate their contracts if the Labor Department proposal went through.

The administration is seeking to revamp 1938 labor rules by expanding overtime protections for low-wage workers while making it easier for employers to exempt many higher-paid workers. The Senate voted last month to block any curtailment of overtime coverage, although its bill would allow the administration to broaden overtime eligibility for low-wage workers. While the House version of the bill still differs from the Senate's, yesterday's vote instructed House conferees to back the Senate position.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36821-2003Oct2.html

[Mari333]

1. republicans defy their King to vote for their constituents????

WOW their phones must be ringing off the hook!!!!!!!and then dont want to die when Bush is thrown out, rats leaving ship! I hope this keeps up!

[izzie]

2. Will DeLay skin them alive???

No one or country gets out alive if they do not go along with what this WH want. Who really holds the whip? I still think it is the Vice.

[ikojo]

3. This proves what the people can do when they join

together. I have been working tirelessly on this issue since late last year. I have bombarded sometimes willing participants with e mails urging them to call their reps and senators. It worked because people did call the offices and read them the riot act. I called Gephardt's office and told the staffer that I expected him to be present at the next vote (he was not present at the July 10 vote) and that working people were counting on him and the other Dems who didn't vote.

I even wrote Kit Bond and Jim Talent although it did no good because they are class warriors for the rich.

Way to go!

[remfan]

4. *'s coattails appear to be shrinking fast

"I just had to represent the concerns of my district," said Rep. Todd Tiahrt...translation - "Suddenly my lockstepping with the House "leadership" doesn't play so well at home."

[goobergunch]

5. Here's the vote:

ON MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES

H R          2660
           YEAS NAYS PRES NV 
REPUBLICAN   21  201       7 
DEMOCRATIC  199    2       4
INDEPENDENT   1     
TOTALS      221  203      11
       TIME REMAINING  0:00

REPUBLICAN YEAS: Boehlert, Capito, Ferguson, Johnson (IL), Kelly, King (NY), LaTourette,
Leach, LoBiondo, McCotter, McHugh, Miller (MI), Murphy, Nussle, Quinn, Shays, Smith (NJ),
Sweeney, Tiahrt, Upton, Young (AK)

DEMOCRATIC NAYS: Hall, Stenholm

NOT VOTING: Brady (TX), Dooley (CA), Dreier, Eshoo, Evans, Fletcher, Hyde, Issa, Sabo,
Saxton, Walsh

http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2003&rollnumber=531