~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

working overtime ~ workingwa.org
The 40-hour workweek should be the standard, not the exception. Tell Washington State L&I you support expanding overtime rights to hundreds of thousands of salaried workers — because our time counts, too.
SIGN ON TO EXPAND OVERTIME
time clock
Friends—

Nobody should have to work without getting paid for it.

But right here in Washington state, there’s a loophole that lets companies get out of paying overtime — no matter how many hours you work. They simply have to pay you a salary and claim the nature of your job makes you “exempt”… and then they don’t have to pay you an extra dime if you work more than 40 hours in a week.

Technically there are rules about what kind of jobs can be exempt from overtime, but usually your employer is the one who tells you whether you get overtime or not. If you think they’re wrong, you maybe could file a claim over that classification. But unless you have a lawyer on retainer, in the day to day reality of the workplace, your employer gets to decide.

The good news: the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is working on new rules that could finally close the overtime loophole for hundreds of thousands of salaried workers in our state.

We’re asking the state to require that any worker who’s paid less than three times the minimum wage (about $75,000 a year) gets time-and-a-half if they work more than 40 hours a week — regardless of whether or not they’re hourly or salaried, and no matter what fancy title their boss gives them.

Sign our petition to L&I telling them you support expanding overtime rights for salaried workers. Time is money — employers shouldn’t just get both.

It may seem weird to think of a salaried worker getting overtime pay, but as recently as the 1970s, more than 60% of salaried workers got time-and-a-half when they worked overtime. Now just 7% of salaried workers do — and it’s not because people are working less.

Of course, the big business lobby groups aren’t just going to sit back and let workers take our time back without a fight. Big businesses appreciate a good loophole. They like things the way they are.

And they have ways to make their voices heard.

Now we need to make sure the state hears from workers, too — click to sign our petition to L&I to support expanding overtime rights in our state.

Some jobs may require long hours, but if an employer expects you to work more than 40 hours a week, they should be expected to pay accordingly.

Workers are human beings, and our time counts, too.

Thanks for the support,

Working Washington
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the senate August 21st-28th **CONGRESS** 2018 the house


August 28, 2018 Wrap Up for Tuesday, August 28, 2018
August 27, 2018 Wrap Up for Monday, August 27, 2018
August 23, 2018 Wrap Up for Thursday, August 23, 2018
August 22, 2018 Wrap Up for Wednesday, August 22, 2018
August 21, 2018 Wrap Up for Tuesday, August 21, 2018
August 21, 2018 Wrap Up for Tuesday, August 21, 2018

House Activity 8/31

9:30:00 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:30:53 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Biggs to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:31:09 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:31:31 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 2(a) of H. Res. 1012, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
9:31:53 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Schweikert to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:32:23 A.M. H. Res. 1047 Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 1047 — “Expressing the profound sorrow of the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable John Sidney McCain, III, a Senator from the State of Arizona.”
9:32:38 A.M. H. Res. 1047 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
9:32:58 A.M. H. Res. 1047 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
9:33:15 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 1047and section 2(b) of H. Res. 1012. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on September 4, 2018.

House Activity 8/28

2:00:18 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:26 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Jim Banks to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:43 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Monsignor Stephen J. Rossetti, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
12:01:29 P.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 2(a) of H. Res. 1012, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
12:01:35 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:01:36 P.M. The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 27, 2018 at 11:39 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 2511, S. 2896, and H.R. 6157 amended.
12:01:37 P.M. The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 28, 2018 at 10:06 a.m.: That the Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 43, S. Con. Res. 44, and that the Senate agreed to Relative to the Death of the Honorable John Sidney McCain, III, United States Senator from the State of Arizona S. Res. 619.
12:03:01 P.M. S. Con. Res. 43 Without objection, the Chair laid S. Con. Res. 43 before the House.
12:03:09 P.M. S. Con. Res. 43 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
12:03:12 P.M. S. Con. Res. 43 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:04:05 P.M. S. Con. Res. 44 Without objection, the Chair laid S. Con. Res. 44 before the House.
12:04:25 P.M. S. Con. Res. 44 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
12:04:28 P.M. S. Con. Res. 44 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:04:53 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 2(b) of H. Res. 1012. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on August 31, 2018.

House Activity 8/24

11:00:05 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:17 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Alexander X. Mooney to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:00:43 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Dan C. Cummins, Peoples Church, Jacksonville, TX
11:00:59 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 2(a) of H. Res. 1012, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:02:35 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:10 A.M. The House received a communication from the Honorable Duncan Hunter. Mr. Hunter submitted his resignations from the Committees on Armed Services, Education and the Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure. The resignations were accepted without objection.
11:03:57 A.M. The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 23, 2018, at 1:31 p.m.: that the Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 899; that the Senate passed S. 266, S. 1142, S. 1322, S. 2946; and that the Senate passed H.R. 2147
11:04:50 A.M. The House received a communication from Sera Alptekin, Caseworker and Field Representative, Office of Rep. Jackie Speier. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, Ms. Alptekin notified the House that she had been served with a subpoena for testimony, issued by the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Mateo, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.
11:05:28 A.M. The House received a communication from Mark Nagales, Constituent Services Director, Office of Rep. Jackie Speier. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Nagales notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for testimony, issued by the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Mateo, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.
11:06:03 A.M. The House received a communication from Brian Perkins, District Director, Office of Rep. Jackie Speier. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Perkins notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for testimony, issued by the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Mateo, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.
11:06:38 A.M. Library of Congress Trust Fund Board – Pursuant to section 1 of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board Act (2 U.S.C. 154) and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appointed Ms. Elizabeth Beretta-Perik, Jamestown, Rhode Island.
11:07:09 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 2(b) of H. Res. 1012. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on August 28, 2018.

House Activity 8/21

12:30:45 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:31:38 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Barbara Comstock to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:31:56 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Erin Keys, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
12:32:50 P.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 2(a) of H. Res. 1012, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
12:33:07 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:34:10 P.M. The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 20, 2018, at 10:30 a.m.: That the Senate agreed to S. Res. 609.
12:34:40 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 2(b) of H. Res. 1012. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on August 24, 2018.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

When the EPA sided with factory farms in 2001, she quit
Friends,

Back in 2001, Michele Merkel worked for the EPA.

One of her first cases was with farmers who were suing mega-hog factory farms for polluting the community’s air and water. When the EPA sided with the giant corporations, she quit.

Now Michele works at Food & Water Watch, fighting for laws and legislation that force our government and the EPA to protect your water, air and food from factory farms — as they are mandated to do.

Check out Michele’s TEDx Talk to hear her story and how you can fight with Michele against factory farms.

Michele’s story shows how factory farms have too much power.

That’s why we are calling for a ban on factory farms.1

Factory farms place our health and food supply at risk, pollute the environment and our drinking water, and wreck rural communities — while increasing corporate control over our food.

But we can reverse this trend. Watch the video, then start a monthly gift to help ban factory farms.

Watch the video

The list of factory farm abuses is long. Factory farms:

  • Contaminate our air and water
  • Put our food supply at risk
  • Push family farms out of business
  • Abuse antibiotics and treat animals terribly
  • Increase the corporate control of our food system

For all these reasons we must ban new factory farms. You can help by starting your monthly donation right now.

Food & Water Watch is helping to build a movement calling for a ban on new factory farms. We know that this won’t be easy — but just like when we were the first national organization to call for a ban on fracking, we know that it’s the logical solution to the problem we face.

Watch Michele’s TEDx talk to hear more about our fight against factory farms, and then join the fight with a monthly gift.

Onward together,

Wenonah Hauter
Executive Director
Food & Water Watch

1. Ban Factory Farms, Food & Water Watch.

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