WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Wednesday to stop the Bush
administration from changing rules that could cause many
white-collar workers to lose their eligibility for overtime pay. Key
Republicans helped the Democratic minority prevail 54-45.
The House of Representatives voted 213-210 in July to uphold the
Bush overtime-pay proposal, and the White House has threatened
to veto any House-Senate compromise that would block the
change in rules.
At issue is who should be eligible for overtime pay. About 11
million workers receive overtime pay, but at least 70 million hourly
workers are eligible, according to the Labor Department.
The administration wants to revise the 1938 Fair Labor Standards
Act to make it easier for employers to reclassify workers as
professionals, administrators or executives. Employees so
designated who worked more than 40 hours a week would be
exempt from overtime pay.
source:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/6739570.htm