Senate Rebuffs Bush, Blocks New Rules on Overtime Pay

The Republican-controlled Senate voted yesterday to block new Labor Department rules that critics said would deny overtime pay to millions of white-collar workers, handing an embarrassing rebuff to the Bush administration on a politically sensitive jobs issue.

The Senate voted 52 to 47 to scrap the new rules despite recent changes to address earlier criticism, an intense lobbying campaign by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and a last-ditch GOP effort to avert defeat by proposing a long list of jobs for which overtime pay could not be eliminated.

Although the GOP's concessions were approved unanimously, they did not satisfy five moderate Republicans who broke ranks to vote with nearly all Democrats in favor of keeping the administration from cutting anyone's overtime pay.

"This was a great victory for American workers and families" and sent a "clear message to the administration" to drop its efforts to rewrite the nation's overtime pay rules, said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who led the fight against the new regulations.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2000-2004May4.html

I don't understand why that doesn't anger anyone. I am guessing most readers here would just skim that over, not thinking twice about it.

probably zell miller for one.

But, on the final vote, Republicans Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.), Lincoln D. Chafee (R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pa.) joined all Democrats present except Zell Miller (Ga.) in voting to protect overtime pay.

Who were these 5 republicans? I am glad the Dems stood with the people on this one.

no surprises.

But, on the final vote, Republicans Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.), Lincoln D. Chafee (R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pa.) joined all Democrats present except Zell Miller (Ga.) in voting to protect overtime pay.

Ben Campbell is my Senator, and I got an action alert from MoveOn.org this morning. I was in a hurry and wasn't going to call, but I did, and he voted for it! Although it wasn't just me, FINALLY something to smile about in Colorado.

Olympia has voted with Bush for most things in the past three years. She is never going to jump ship.

what happened to Collins?

Not up for re-election?

Wonder if all those emails paid off?

How'd Arlen Specter vote? Ah. Read the story. Republicans voting with the Dems here:

Campbell (Colo.),
Chafee (R.I.),
Murkowski (Alaska),
Snowe (Maine)
Specter (Pa.)

...awed and grateful!

Several months ago, it appeared this was a sure thing to be passed. I've backed workingasserts with emails and faxes, but I was skeptical that any of the pleasures of the * administration would be denied.

AND MANY AWESOME THANKS!
:bounce:

:D

He is a turncoat. He is a filthy GOPer. Screw him and the elephant he rode in on.

I apologize to everyone on DU and to every American for Zell. I'm ashamed that I voted for this idiot 4 years ago.

This idiot isn't running again (thank God!)

This is yet another defeat for Shrub! Keep
em comming!

How many of our Congresscritters are up for re-election? Mabye it's time to put the squeeze on them.

:headbang:
rocknation

to the bush for the big endorsement during the primary. Of course, this vote takes one big club out of Hoeffel's arsenal for the general election.

"moderates" when its not an election year? I hope the voters remember next time that that is just a sham trotted out every six years with (sadly) the desired effect. smith (Oregon), collins (Maine), and coleman (Minnesota) come to my mind, is it coincidence they were all just reelected.

Even though it seemed to be an exercise in futility, I kept sending emails and making calls to my congresscritters.

Thank you Democratic Senators! This bill if passed would have broken barriers to have all US workers treated as slave labor. Corporations have been given enough breaks.