Dems press Trump to keep Obama overtime rule

Congressional Democrats are calling on President-elect Donald Trump to keep President Obama’s overtime rule in tact.

The rule would require employers to pay overtime to most salaried workers who earn less than $47,476 annually, starting Dec. 1.

{mosads}Under current rules, employers only have to pay overtime to most salaried workers who earn less than $23,660 annually.

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) argued that if Trump overturns the law, he’ll be turning his back on the working-class voters who elected him.

“President Trump, this is a test for you. Will you follow up on your rhetoric on the campaign trail with real actions to help workers or will you turn the keys of your administration over to hard right ideologues who don’t want the government to do anything to protect fair pay for workers,” he said.

A Texas federal judge last week blocked the rule from taking effect.

Democrats held a press conference on Thursday to call attention to the rule, which was to take effect on Dec. 1, and to Trump’s decision.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) attended.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said people voted for Trump with the hope it would help them get a good job.   

“My suspicion is they expected to get good wages with those jobs,” he said.