Attempt to Block Rule On Overtime Thwarted

[Rose Siding]

An attempt to block the Bush administration's proposed changes in overtime rules was killed before the 2005 spending bill received final congressional approval over the weekend.

Democrats attached an amendment to the Senate's version of the bill that would have overturned the overtime regulations, which went into effect in August. The amendment, which would have prevented any worker previously covered by overtime from losing that protection, was deleted in a conference committee.

The White House had threatened to veto the entire $388 billion spending bill if the overtime amendment was included.

Democrats say they will continue to fight to overturn the regulations next year.
"This battle isn't over," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said in a statement. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Kennedy "intend to push hard" to eliminate the overtime regulations, a Kennedy spokesman said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5656-2004Nov22.html