Senate GOP files motion to roll back Obama overtime rule

Senate Republicans are trying to block the Labor Department’s controversial overtime rule that would raise pay for more than 4 million workers.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) — the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee — and 43 other Senate Republicans on Tuesday filed a motion of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to vote to roll back controversial regulations.

{mosads}The Labor Department doubled the overtime threshold in May, meaning employees who make as much as $47,476 a year would be paid time-and-a-half when they work more than 40 hours in a week.

Republicans say this will lead to companies cutting work hours and giving employees fewer opportunities for advancement. They also warn it could raise college tuition prices.

“There is no question that this rule also hurts those American workers it’s intended to help, through reductions in their hours and diminished workplace flexibility,” Alexander said Tuesday.

“Workers who today are mid-management or professional employees are not going to like it one bit when their employer tells them that under this new rule they’re going to be punching the time-clock when they go in and out of work,” he added.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Republicans need a simple majority in both chambers to block the overtime rule.

But President Obama can veto their attempt to block it, and Republicans do not have enough support on their own to override a veto.

Republicans also challenged the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule through the Congressional Review Act.