(Washington, DC)  --  U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ) have spearheaded a letter to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert asking for a vote on proposed federal overtime rules before they take effect on August 23.  The letter was signed by more than a dozen House Republicans and was to be delivered to the Speaker today.

 LaTourette said he and others signing the letter believe a vote is needed in the House to protect workers’ overtime.   LaTourette asked the Speaker to give House members the same opportunity afforded to the Senate when it recently approved an amendment to S. 1637, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act.  The amendment will repeal any portion of the final overtime regulation that takes away workers’ overtime rights.

 The letter asks to meet with Hastert to “discuss options for securing an up-or-down vote in the House on language similar to that included in S. 1637 as soon as possible.”

 LaTourette fears new federal overtime rules slated to begin August 23 could have the unintended consequence of depriving workers of overtime.  The Department of Labor is attempting to modernize 50-year-old regulations that govern federal overtime pay by updating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).   One reason for the change is to clarify and distinctly define the line between managerial and other positions.

 “This attempt to clarify the law has resulted in far too much confusion and I can’t support a change that could deprive workers of overtime,” LaTourette said.  “Once these rules go into effect it’ll be tough to undo them, and even experts on labor law concede the rules are confusing and subject to multiple interpretations.”

 LaTourette said it’s smart policy to let the House vote on the issue through an up-or-down vote rather than through procedural gimmickry.

 “I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t update overtime rules, I just don’t think we should change the law to penalize those entitled to overtime,” LaTourette said.

 Those signing the letter are:  Jim Saxton (R-NJ); Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY); Chris Smith (R-NJ); Tim Johnson (R-IL); Sue Kelly (R-NY); Jim Leach (R-IA); Jack Quinn (R-NY); John McHugh (R-NY); Peter King (R-NY); Mike Ferguson (R-NJ); Jim Nussle (R-IA); John Sweeney (R-NY); Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI); Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH); and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ).