On May 18, the Obama administration issued a new rule on overtime pay for employees, which at a stroke effectively turned millions of salaried employees into hourly employees eligible for overtime pay.
It was roundly (and rightly) condemned by employers and business groups nationwide, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the National Council of Chain Restaurants. But one organization stood out from the rest: U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
Founded by Ralph Nader, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and its state-based member organizations have long been models of pro-regulation activism, campaigning for a bigger role for government in everything from financial markets to children’s toys. But on the expansion of overtime rules, they are firmly in the “no” camp.
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