Thomas Daschle: “What we really wanted was an opportunity to do what Senator Harkin has been calling for since he offered his amendment…”

“What we really wanted was an opportunity to do what Senator Harkin has been calling for since he offered his amendment on the overtime regulation last Friday. We have said if we can get a vote, which is, of course, the right of any Senator to expect if he offers his amendment, if we have that vote, if they cooperate, then certainly we can reciprocate. It is our desire is to reciprocate and cooperate. However, I come to the floor this afternoon simply to reiterate how vitally important this issue is. Eight million people in this country today will be affected by the vote to be taken here. With absolutely no consultation, with no public hearings, with little public debate, last spring the administration promulgated new rules weakening overtime protection for workers. Again, as I said, there was no consultation with us or the millions of workers affected before the most sweeping change in overtime rules was issued.”