Larry Pressler: “today I am introducing the Court Reporter Fair Labor Amendments of 1995. I originally introduced this bill last…”

“today I am introducing the Court Reporter Fair Labor Amendments of 1995. I originally introduced this bill last November, during the special GATT session. As I said then, the American people sent a strong, clear signal on November 8: they want less Government and they want it now. My bill would keep the Federal Government from intruding into an area it has no business being in, and where its protections are unwanted by everyone concerned. Specifically, my bill would exempt State and local courts reporters from the compensatory time requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act [FLSA] when they perform private transcription work outside of normal working hours or regular working days. A recent interpretation of the U.S. Labor Department threatens to radically change the way court reporters have been paid for many years. This bill would keep undisturbed current pay arrangements between State and local reporters and their court employers. I am pleased my friend from Kansas, Senator Kassebaum, the new chairman of the Labor and Human Resources Committee, is cosponsoring this legislation. She has always been a strong proponent of limited government. We both realize the public demand for less government has never been greater.”