FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
October 2, 2003
Contact:  Marie DesOrmeaux
(202) 225-3772
 
House Democrats Successfully Block Overtime Pay Changes
Ross: motion is a victory for working families
 
(Washington, D.C.) Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) voted Thursday to block an effort to eliminate overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act for some 8 million hard-working Americans. 

“The overtime pay changes are just another hit on our working families,” Ross said.  “The Administration's change to the overtime regulations would result in a pay cut for as many as 8 million workers, including some 500,000 critical First Responders such as firefighters, police officers and nurses.” 

On Wednesday the House appointed conferees on H.R. 1660, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2004, which contains the overtime pay regulations.  Rather than vote against the entire spending package, House Democrats offered a motion to instruct conferees to accept Senate-passed provisions that would block the overtime changes.  The motion passed by a vote of 221-203. 

“Our working families depend on the extra money that comes from working extra hours to meet their needs,” Ross said.  “Just this week a report released by the census bureau revealed that even more people are having to go without health insurance because of rising insurance costs, job loss, or because their employers can no longer afford to provide benefits.  Amid these conditions, with our working families struggling to make ends meet, the Administration is pushing a bill that will erode wages for everyone.  This is not the answer to our working families’ struggles, I will continue to fight any legislation that threatens their livelihood.”


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