corrente

Waddaya know, one major state stood up for working people. I'm sure you've seen this outburst of populism covered extensively in the SCLM (snicker, snort). I would suspect this of being a pious-sounding fraud except that the Usual Suspects are going boo-hoo-hoo in unison.

I'm just so proud of my old home state I'd offer to move back, except it would put me dangerously close to several relatives.

(via Chicago Tribune)

On Friday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law a bill passed overwhelmingly by both state houses that would ban all but the portion of the Labor Department's proposal that benefits low-wage workers.

Opponents of the updates to the white-collar overtime exemptions under the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act say that 8 million or more workers would lose their overtime protection if the regulations are enacted, including military veterans, nurses, and retail and food service workers.

But employers have complained for years that the Depression-era rules do not reflect the modern workplace and are hoping for clarity.
The state adopted the portion of the federal proposal that raises the minimum salary below which workers automatically qualify for overtime to $425 a week, or $22,100 a year, from the previous limit of $155 a week, or $8,060 a year. Otherwise, the law maintains the status quo on overtime eligibility in Illinois.

Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes drafted the House's version of the bill, and state Sen. Barack Obama was the key sponsor of a measure in the Senate.

"A lot of families rely on overtime pay just to make ends meet. This legislation is critical to the well-being of thousands of families across our state who are already struggling to get by," said state Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg).

But critics say the law is just another example of how the governor is beholden to labor unions.

Huzzah for Gov. G-Rod, as archpundit calls him, and the Illinois legislature, which hasn't shown this kind of intestinal fortitude since I can't remember when.