Ohio's Attorney General Mike DeWine is challenging President Barack Obama's proposal to strengthen overtime laws.
DeWine has joined 21 other states in suing the U.S. Department of Labor regarding overtime protections that would make 4 million Americans eligible for overtime pay.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups joined DeWine, because, as those who stand behind workers believe, businesses would be required to pay their workers an honest pay for an honest day's work.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez said that he was confident in the legality of the rule, describing the lawsuits as partisan, obstructionist tactics. He noted that overtime protections have receded over the years: they applied to 62 percent of full-time salaried workers in 1975 and just 7 percent today. Read more at Plunderbund.com.
Senate candidate Ted Strickland's statement. “I believe in a simple idea: if you work overtime you should get paid overtime. That’s why I’ve called for expanding overtime pay protections, and I am a strong advocate of the administration’s plan to make sure workers receive the wages they have earned. It is deeply disappointing that Ohio Republicans are trying to block this proposal for the sake of their own politics –– just like how Senator Portman voted to strip overtime wages away from 6 million American workers in order to push the interests of his powerful friends. In the Senate, I will be proud to support strong and fair protections to ensure that every American worker receives the fair pay they have rightfully earned.”
The Ohio Democratic Party's statement: "Apparently Mike DeWine doesn’t think an honest day’s work should get a fair day’s pay because he’s attempting to stop new overtime protections that would help more than 130,000 working Ohioans, after decades when Ohio workers have seen stagnant wages. It’s just the latest example of how DeWine continues to waste our tax dollars on petty partisan politics, just as he has done time and time again. DeWine’s most recent failed lawsuit is actually costing Ohio taxpayers nearly $50,000 to pay for the opponent’s legal fees. It’s clear that DeWine only cares about politics as he prepares to run for governor. The question is, why should Ohio taxpayers be forced to pick up the tab for his nationwide legal blundering?”
Read more on the new overtime protections.