Officials from 21 states sue to block overtime pay expansion

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Officials from 21 states sue to block overtime pay expansion
Sep 20, 8:01 PM EDT
By MICHELLE RINDELS
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Officials from 21 states sued the U.S. Department of Labor Tuesday over a new rule that would make about 4 million higher-earning workers eligible for overtime pay, slamming the measure as inappropriate federal overreach by the Obama Administration.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a Republican, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Eastern Texas, urging it to block implementation before the regulation takes effect on Dec. 1. Laxalt, a frequent critic of President Barack Obama's policies, said the rule would burden private and public sectors by straining budgets and forcing layoffs or cuts in working hours.

. . .

The lawsuit came the same day that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 50 other business groups filed a legal challenge against the regulation.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez said he was confident in the legality of the rule, describing the lawsuits as partisan, obstructionist tactics. He noted that overtime protections have receded over the years: they applied to 62 percent of full-time salaried workers in 1975 and just 7 percent today.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OVERTIME_EXPANSION_LAWSUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-20-20-01-40

[groundloop]

1. And yet lower educated (and lower paid) workers support these bastards !!!!

Why the hell would people NOT want to get paid for working overtime. I can't believe that GOPers have any support from lower income earners, they're obviously very good at getting people to believe their lies.

[cstanleytech]

2. Because companies use fear and intimidation by telling the workers that they might have

to cut hours and or let people go whenever higher pay for worker comes up and so many people when faced with a threat to the only job they have as shitty as it may be knuckle under.

[Third Doctor]

3. Exactly right

I've seen this recently.

[reggaehead]

7. And they will

And do. It's a more flexible workforce. Meaning you get paid less and have shit benefits. You'll like it or be in the street

[Bradical79]

10. Yes

Though it happens regardless of pay.

[Omaha Steve]

4. Look at this from the WP

https://www.facebook.com/SEIU/photos/a.401685982679.184527.19972147679/10153725520582680/?type=3&theater

[Hugin]

5. Yeah, and they filed in the most partisan East Texas District Court, too.

Hoping for a 4-4 split on the Supremes. Yet another reason to win back the Senate.

[groundloop]

6. Good catch

[Grins]

8. Trivia!!!

And these are the other 20-states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maine and New Mexico.

TRIVIA QUESTION: WHAT DO THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON?

[lutefisk]

9. Great. Wisconsin's hanging with the bad kids now.

WHAT DO THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON?

A-hole Republican governors?

[rusty fender]

12. I'm surprised to see NM on this list because

our AG is a Dem, although our Gov. is a Repuke