The Senate voted yesterday to block new Labor Department rules that critics said would deny overtime pay to millions of white-collar workers. The dispute began last year when the Labor Department proposed to update overtime pay rules by expanding coverage for low-paid workers but cutting back on eligibility for those who are better paid. Democratic Sen. Tom has led the fight against the new regulations and has offered a proposal that would leave overtime rules as they are, although allowing the provisions expanding eligibility for low-income workers to take effect.
See "Senate Rebuffs Bush, Blocks New Rules on Overtime Pay", Helen Dewar, The Washington Post, May 4, 2004