The bill, in brief, is worse than meritless; it is a fraud. According to its Republican backers, it’s an expression in legislative form of how much they care for families, work-life balance and, in particular, working women. If this is caring, I would hate to see what contempt looks like.
The bill would amend long-standing labor law by allowing private-sector employers to offer compensatory time off in lieu of time-and-a-half pay for overtime. Employers and workers are supposed to agree on the arrangement, but there is nothing to stop an employer from discriminating against those who prefer payment by cutting back on their overtime hours. Nor would employers face any real deterrent against forcing unpaid overtime on workers who fear losing their jobs if they object. The recourse for coerced workers would be to sue, a far-fetched and unaffordable option for most people.
For employers, then, the bill is a way to impose extra work at no additional cost, effectively shifting what would otherwise be worker pay into corporate profits.
For employees who won’t work overtime without extra compensation, the likely result would be fewer hours and overall less pay. For those who will, the likely result would be greater unpredictability in scheduling, which only creates more work stress, as well as higher costs for work related expenses like child care, but with no additional money to meet those expenses.
Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2013
David Lagstein and Steven Gill discuss Corporate Taxes (by KPBSSanDiego)
Don’t forget to tell your California state senator to support AB 2439
Constitutional Fascism
“All the provisions of the Constitution could be subordinated and rendered obsoletete by a series of statutes passed by a majority of both Houses of Congress and signed by the president”
Even a Herculean Effort Wouldn’t Have Changed California
Dear Arnold: Thanks for nothing.
Sincerely, Kevin Drum.
Drum goes on to point out how ineffective Schwarzeneggar’s term in office was, as if Arni could have changed it. Perhaps - but identifying elected executives to be at fault is an easy way to focus the attention/blame off the system and the parties responsible off of systemic flaws: everyone.
First, California has shot itself in the foot as to how revenue is raised. Over coming noise about either revenues or taxes is exceedingly difficult in California as it is in much of the developed world at present. Further, term limits have rendered the our legislative process ineffective. These are the fruits of the citizen’s tool to write it’s own legislation is manipulated and abused, thus sending government (think as a process, not a monolith) in an extreme, regressive / reactionary directions. Add that in to ideological intransigence that vilifies taxation, you’ve got a government that seems like a zombie to me.
If one still wants to blame anyone for Schwarzeneggar besides or in addition to Schwarzeneggar himself, blame the man who made it possible by starting the recall of Gray Davis, Schwarzennegar’s predecessor who was one the casualties of Enron’s manipulation of the energy (transmitted electricity) markets in 2000.
AT&T in Wonderland
AT&T must think we believe in fairy tales. The phone giant is trying to convince us that its takeover of T-Mobile would be good for jobs, innovation and the economy, while saving us hundreds of dollars on our mobile bills.
Don’t believe it.
The reality is that AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile would stifle choice and innovation in the market, harm consumers, and lead to higher prices and fewer jobs nationwide.
Next week, AT&T is marching over to the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee to woo support for this disastrous deal. Sign this letter telling the subcommittee that such massive consolidation is pure craziness.
and which bill was that, professional journalist?
One of my senators was mentioned in an article on a topic that I had contacted her about a couple days ago. No mention of the name of the bill, nor, at the very least, the number of the bill.
While I commented about railed against SB 510, Senator Dianne Feinstein replied by e-mail about a different bill, Senator Barbara Boxer replied to me about a third bill (mind you now, we still don’t know which bill is discussed in the A.P. story that Boston.com published). I’m getting used to being snowed by my federal representatives, I’ve blogged about it before. It’s the press that I have an issue with this time.
Why don’t professional journalists mention the titles and numbers of bills when they report on legislation?
It would be fulfilling that nebulous public interest if I got some lead time on legislation coming up for important votes so I can call them up and tell them their business give input on pending legislation, but can’t I just get the minimum information? Is it so much to add the bill name and number to reporting?
