George Voinovich: “I want to comment on the remarks of the Senator from Minnesota this evening before the Senate and indicate many of us…”

“I want to comment on the remarks of the Senator from Minnesota this evening before the Senate and indicate many of us who voted against the Harkin amendment were also as concerned about some of the things the Senator of Minnesota talked about, in terms of the benefits that accrued to working men and women in the United States of America. I made it clear at that time, when I voted against the Harkin amendment, I felt the Department of Labor should be able to move forward with their recommendations on a law that hasn't been changed since 1978, and that if what my colleagues on the other aisle have indicated is true, many of us would join them in having those rules overturned by the Members of the Senate. I am pleased to say those rules have been finished by the Department of Labor and they are now at OIRA, which is in the Office of Management and Budget, being reviewed by John Graham. I am hopeful they will be back to the Department of Labor within the next 30 days, so we will know specifically what it is those rules are going to recommend in terms of changes in the law. Hopefully, they are not going to reflect what I have heard on the floor of the Senate over the last couple of months about eliminating overtime for 8 million workers.”