Daily Clips: June 8th, 2015
Obama poised to hike wages for millions
Politico – Marianne Levine
It’s been less than a year since Nick Hanauer asked “Whatever Happened to Overtime?” and it seems we are already getting an answer from the Obama administration. Overtime is coming back.
According to Levine,
As early as this week, the Labor Department could propose a rule that would raise the current overtime threshold — $23,660 – to as much as $52,000, extending time and a half overtime pay to millions of American workers. The rule has already come under fire from business and Republican opponents who say it will kill jobs and force employers to cut hours for salaried employees.
Unsurprisingly, businesses and Republicans are rolling out the same old arguments against these wage increases. There main points boil down to scare tactics: “We know you’re wages have stagnated terribly, but while that is bad, we’re even more worried about you actually having a job.” Talk about holding workers hostage to crappy wages.
Frankly, the overtime threshold is due for an update, no matter these hyperbolic concerns. After all, it has been updated only once since 1975. Currently, it covers 12 percent of salaried workers.
Boosting the threshold to $50,440 would bring it back in line with the 1975 threshold, after inflation. By one estimate that would give somewhere between five to ten million workers a raise.
Chris Christie Vows to Roll Back Legalization in WA and CO if President: Welcome to the sinking ship Governor Christie – and it’s not because you just jumped aboard. It’s because this issue has become increasingly popular in America, with poll numbers on legalization moving from just 34% approval in 2003 to nearly 60% in 2012. If the Governor was actually worried about preserving the health and safety of Americans, he should start looking at the deadliness of obesity in our nation. After all, it’s estimated that obesity accounts for as much as 18 percent of all deaths in the United States.
Public to Supreme Court – Don’t gut Obamacare, please: In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 55 percent of Americans want the court to not block federal subsidies in the 34 states that don’t have their own exchanges. And there is further good news for Democrats and health care – independents sided with keeping the subsidies, 57 percent to 36 percent. That compares with 55 percent of Republicans who want SCOTUS to rule against the subsidies.
Cop who shot Walter Scott in the back indicted for murder: The South Carolina police officer who shot Walter Scott in the back eight times could be facing between 30 years and life in prison for his murderous actions earlier this year. Thank god there was actually someone there to video tape the event – otherwise, who knows if this cop would have been charged.
