WASHINGTON -- The House voted Thursday to let the Bush administration move ahead with proposed rules that could stop at least 644,000 white-collar workers from receiving overtime pay.þþLawmakers voted 213-210 to reject a Democratic provision that would have derailed the regulations. Unless the Senate blocks them, the proposed rules could take effect later this year.þþThe proposed rules would require overtime for as many as 1.3 million additional low-income workers when they work more than 40 hours per week.þþBut the Labor Department estimates at least 644,000 white-collar workers now required to get overtime would lose it as a result of new definitions of exempt jobs. Unions say that figure would exceed 8 million.þþThe Democratic provision would have blocked any regulations that would deprive workers of overtime pay they already receive.þþ
Source: Chicago Tribune
