Bush eliminates overtime for millions

Foes of Bush overtime rules abandon effort to kill regulations

Foes of the Bush administration's proposed rules changing which workers would qualify for overtime pay abandoned their fight on Friday in the face of unrelenting pressure from the White House and the House.

The end of the overtime fight spelled a legislative and political victory for President Bush, whose aides had repeatedly threatened a veto for any legislation attempting to kill the overtime regulations.

The monthslong battle pitted big business and its GOP allies against organized labor and congressional Democrats, who contend that the regulations would give leeway to employers to deny overtime to 8 million workers.