USA

Obama Calls for Overtime Pay Protection

President Barack Obama signs a Presidential Memorandum to modernize overtime protections, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Mar. 13, 2014.

U.S. President Barack Obama says he has ordered a review of the nation's overtime rules because too many Americans are working overtime and are not being paid for all the hours they work.

Obama said in his weekly address Saturday an overtime exception that was originally meant for highly paid employees now applies to workers who earn as little as $23,660 a year, making it possible for salaried workers to be paid less than the minimum wage.

The president said his administration was "going to update those overtime rules" to restore the basic principle "that if you have to work more, you should be able to earn more."

President Obama said the country must "build an economy that works for everybody, nut just a fortunate few."

Watch President Obama's weekly address:


In the Republican address, Congressman Bill Johnson from Ohio called on the president to protect senior citizens who he says are losing their long-term doctors because of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.