WASHINGTON, June 8 – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate labor committee, today announced he is a cosponsor of legislation to block implementation of the administration’s “Time Card Rule,” also known as the Overtime Rule, which would have workers punching the clock when they come and go from work and unable to negotiate a flexible work arrangement. It will also cost many colleges millions of dollars per year in additional operating costs, potentially raising tuition for college students.

“This administration is determined to push out more burdensome regulations for the sake of the president’s legacy,” Senator Roberts said. “This is one more rule that hurts the very people it should have been intended to help. Had the administration listened to stakeholders, it would have heard comments and suggestions with how to move forward in a way that would benefit the worker. Instead, they rammed this rule through at the last minute, causing a headache for our job creators and a demotion of so many hard working Americans.”

Background:

In 2015, the Department of Labor released a proposal to increase the salary threshold under which employees qualify for overtime pay. The department’s final rule released last month, which more than doubles that salary threshold – from $23,660 to $47,476, will result in workers having less flexibility and opportunity for advancement in the workplace, and students facing higher tuition costs.

The legislation, introduced by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), under the Congressional Review Act, would nullify the administration’s final rule if passed, and prohibit the administration from issuing a substantially similar rule without congressional approval.

The resolution is cosponsored by John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Dean Heller (R-Nevada), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), David Vitter (R-La.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

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