House and Senate negotiators have removed an amendment that would have blocked
the Bush administration from implementing its proposed changes to overtime for
white-collar workers, the Chicago Tribune reports.
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customized information for your industry, location, and job.
Get Your Report Now!The amendment had been attached to a larger spending bill, which now will go
back to both chambers for a vote without the amendment to block the changes.
Some Senate Democrats who oppose the overtime changes are considering steps
to stall a vote until January, according to the newspaper.
In September, the Senate approved an amendment to block the overtime changes
covering white-collar workers. Later, in a nonbinding vote, the House did the
same. President Bush had threatened to veto any spending bill that included
a measure to block the revisions of overtime rules.
The newspaper notes that labor leaders had thought they won the battle over
the proposed overtime changes after the Senate and House votes earlier this
year, but the negotiators' recent decision to drop the amendment has drawn their
ire. Labor leaders now are urging lawmakers to reject the spending bill if it
is without the amendment, the newspaper reports.
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