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EXTRA! for March 7, 2017

Stories of interest to working people for Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
By AFSCME Staff ·

Here are some national stories of interest to working people:

Health Care

House Republicans Unveil Plan to Replace Health Law
By Robert Pear and Thomas Kaplan, New York Times, March 6, 2017 

The House Republican bill would roll back the expansion of Medicaid that has provided coverage to more than 10 million people in 31 states. …. It also would effectively scrap the unpopular requirement that people have insurance and eliminate tax penalties for those who go without. The requirement for larger employers to offer coverage to their full-time employees would also be eliminated. People who let their insurance coverage lapse, however, would face a significant penalty.

Labor Rule

Senate Votes To Scrap Obama-Era Labor Rule
By Kevin Freking, Associated Press, March 6, 2017

The Senate on Monday reversed an Obama administration rule designed to ensure government contractors disclose violations of federal labor laws as they seek more work. Senate approval of the measure sends it to President Donald Trump for his signature and marks another success in the GOP's efforts to quash an array of regulations issued during President Barack Obama's final months in office. 

Education Policy

Congressional Republicans poised to overturn Obama-era education regulations
By Emma Brown, Washington Post, March 6, 2017

Congress is pushing to overturn as early as this week regulations that outline how states must carry out a federal law that holds public schools accountable for serving all students. Leaders of the Republican majority claim that the rules, written during the Obama administration, represent an executive overreach. Democrats argue that rescinding the rules will open loopholes to hide or ignore schools that fail to adequately serve poor children, minorities, English-language learners and students with disabilities.

Overtime

Donald Trump Will Decide Whether You Get Overtime Pay
By Dave Jamieson, Huffington Post, March 6, 2017

(Katie) Donley is one of millions of Americans whose pay or workload may have changed for good due to the overtime rules. But the reforms are now tied up in court and face a dim future under Trump, whose administration is rapidly peeling back regulations on corporations. The new, business-friendly White House could decline to defend the reforms on appeal ― making it more likely they will die a slow death ― or choose to replace them with something more palatable for employers and less generous to workers.

Child Care Policy

Here's who gets punished in Trump's child care plan
By Ajay Chaudry and Taryn Morrissey, CNBC, March 6, 2017 

On Tuesday night, President Trump called for bipartisan support for his child care and paid family leave proposals. The attention to this issue, largely driven by Ivanka Trump's influence, is commendable. But the costly plan for allowing greater tax write-offs for child care expenses is badly designed and misdirected – it would benefit the affluent while ignoring the realities of low- and middle-income families who need help the most – while the paid leave proposal is inadequate.

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