It boggles the mind to know that some members of Congress (like Cantor) make close to $250k annually and sometimes more, depending on the length of service. What could Cantor, et al possibly know about the needs of an hourly wage worker?
We could save money an easier way: End some of Congress’ vacation time and extend their work week to 4.5 days (with a half-day on Friday to get back to their home states.) That way, the taxpayers of the United States will finally get their money’s worth.
Daily Kos
In Eric Cantor’s February 2013 speech, he said he wanted to propose Federal Law that would end overtime pay for hourly workers. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, mandates that certain workers get paid “time + 1/2” for overtime work. Eric Cantor wants to eliminate that law. Because — ya know — workers not getting paid for overtime hours worked out so good for workers before FDR enacted that Law.
Eric Cantor’s “end of overtime pay for workers” that he talked about in his February speech was overshadowed, in part, by the public whining Cantor did bitching that ‘Obama gave his speech at the same time as me … wah, wah, wah.‘
In this month’s New Yorker Magazine, Ryan Lizza wrote an excellent article titled: “Can Eric Cantor, the Republican Majority Leader, redeem his party and himself?” in which Lizza reminded readers that Eric Cantor wants to end the Federal law that mandates certain workers get paid overtime for the extra hours they labor.
From the New Yorker Magazine: (page 12)
Can Eric Cantor, the Republican Majority Leader, redeem his party and himself? (page 13)Cantor spoke about school choice, tax reform, expanding visas. After the speech, he rode back to the Capitol and met privately with House Republicans to discuss one of the policies he had emphasized: a policy that would allow workers to convert overtime compensation into time off. “I gave a talk today about helping people and about finally focussing on legislation that has understandable benefits right away,” Cantor said. He explained that it would help parents who wanted to go on a field trip or attend a teacher conference. “What I want to see is how we can communicate this, communicate the benefit. How are we going to build a coalition and get it done?”
First, the Republicans tried to do this very same thing in 2003 in a House Bill: HR 1119 “Family Time Flexibility Act” (isn’t that a cute title for a bill that will end overtime pay for hourly working moms and dads.)
Related articles
- 8 Reasons Why Cantor’s Rebranded GOP Looks Just Like The Old GOP (thinkprogress.org)
- Time and a half (susiemadrak.com)
- Eric Cantor Rebrands the Republican Party by Plagiarizing a 2011 Obama Speech (politicususa.com)
- Eric Cantor hit and miss for the GOP (examiner.com)
- Eric Cantor wants to make your life work. Here’s how. (washingtonpost.com)
- Is Eric Cantor making a conscious attempt to talk like Barack Obama? (althouse.blogspot.com)
- Con: Increasing minimum wage could lower workers’ drive (victoriaadvocate.com)
- The real tragedy is that many Americans earn $0.00 per hour and live in poverty, because of the minimum wage law (aei-ideas.org)
The Fifth Column 
It is hard for me to understand why the GOP is acting in such a self-destructive manner. How can they be that out of touch with the Americam public?
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Cantor isn’t the only one trying to undermine labor laws, they are all trying to do this. Every rethug out there, in states or congress, has the same plan. They all lie like rugs, they all scream and whine about things that don’t exist. THEY are the 1%, of course they don’t want to give up their money, and they want ours too. And they have been getting ours until now. WE must stop this insanity and vote these guys out! come on 2014!
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Why is Eric Cantor picking on people who work hard for a living? Cantor is trying to undermine settled labor law that protects working people. Call your Congressman & Call Speaker Boehner & just say no no no. Meow!
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Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™ and commented:
I have an even better suggestion, for saving money….pay all elected Senatorial and Congressional politicians based on tenure AND AMOUNT OF WORK ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED. Bills don’t get passed in a timely manner, no pay. Excessive breaks and time off in the form of vacations with no work actually finished, no pay. Legislation gets kicked down the road, no pay. Obstructionist tactics stop government moving forward, no pay. Filibuster issues to clog up forward government progress, no pay.
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As I am sure that Cantor does not know, the overtime pay law was instituted to make sure that work got shared. Companies, rather than hiring new workers, just expanded the number of hours of their current works (and expanded and expanded …) at normal pay and new workers didn’t get hired. This was not a power grab to make sure we get paid. Sheesh!
But, as I am sure Kantor knows, when somebody works many overtime hours at normal pay, the company benefits because they do not have to pay additional benefits as they would have to a new worker. So, once again, the GOP is chiseling the middle class to make more money for their money grubbing corporate masters.
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No UNION protection for the workingman…. and little by little….law by law… we return to the 1800’s work force…. Laws like the very wealthy Cantor has suggested are one reason why Unions were fought & died for… wake up Union haters….
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In response to the statement, “That way, the taxpayers of the United States will finally get their money’s worth” I have this to say:
Only if we elect better legislators. The ones we have now apparently wouldn’t pass worthwhile legislation in a 60 hour week!
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Congress was off 229 DAYS 2012…..and they call us the “takers”…..
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It just goes to show, he represents the corporations and big banks, not the real people that he is supposed to be representing…
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