A long overdue reform of overtime rules was set to take effect on December 1, 2016. The main thrust of the reform was to raise floor for the overtime exemption for salaried workers. I've discussed before how its current level of $23,660 per year has led to the virtual disappearance of overtime pay for working Americans. So Why Did Overtime Disappear? The reform was a step, not the full and necessary step, but a step.
But the overtime reform didn't take effect, because of a lawsuit brought by big corporations and states led by Republican Governors in which Governor Bevin had Kentucky join. Governor Bevin Joins Frivolous Lawsuit Against New Overtime Rules That Will Benefit Kentucky Workers.
The Dallas Morning News offers to Texas Attorney General Glen Paxton the question of why Texas' state government opposes a fair deal for hard-working Americans and their families? OT rules stalled by Texas-led lawsuit need a new champion as workers look to GOP to keep faith post-election.
One explanation that Gov. Bevin gave for his action to block the overtime reform was that such issues should be decided at the local level. Bevin Joins Lawsuit Challenging New Overtime Pay Rule. But the Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled that Kentucky city and county governments may not set their own overtime or minimum wage rules, so that's not an explanation. So why does Governor Bevin not want working Kentuckians to paid fairly for their work?
