Fourteen months ago – I posted this blog entry:
Because
payroll is part of my job and because I like getting my pay direct deposited
into my checking account every couple of weeks I found this piece of American
Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) legislation befuddling.
This is
what your legislator WASTES their time on at ALEC meeting - to make sure that
the ALEC corporate members can look forward to MORE BUSINESS at some time in
the future.
The next
issue is - why in the hell are state
legislators even screwing around with an issue like this - except for the fact
that they sit as EQUALS at the table with CORPORATIONS -specifically ALEC
member banks and credit card companies.
This
piece of model crap legislation was approved by ALEC's board in 2010. (Look
out!!!!!!!!)
The ALEC Electronic Pay Choice Act
Starts
out by saying that an employer may pay employees in
lawful money of the United States
by a check payable in lawful money of the United States
by automated transfer in lawful money of
the United States
or by credit to a prepaid debit or credit
card.
Okay -
I've worked at all types of jobs in my life and I have received all those types
of payments.
Cash
A hard check
Direct Deposit
Deposit onto a debit card (yep - a seasonal
part-time job a couple of years ago, it was the only way they would pay their
employees - presumably because of extremely high turnover and very few fulltime
employees)
Well
that's all well and good - and up to this point a huge f3cking waste of time to
develop - but then the good stuff comes along.
READ
THIS VERY CAREFULLY!!
However,
an employer that elects not to pay wages or salaries in accordance with clause
(i) or (ii)
(Meaning
hard cash or hard check)
shall
be permitted to pay wages or salaries by credit to a prepaid debit card or card
account in accordance with clause (iv),
(Meaning
direct deposit to a debit card)
even
though such employee has not affirmatively consented thereto,
(say
what??????????? - you get no say - the employer can do anything they damn well want to do with your paycheck)
if
the employee fails to designate an account at a financial institution in
accordance with clause (iii)
(which
means the employee does not give the employer a routing number for direct
deposit)
and
the employer arranges for such card or card account to be issued through a
network system
(presumably
using an ALEC corporate sector member)
through
which the employee shall have the
ability to make at least one free withdrawal or transfer per pay period,
which withdrawal may be for any sum in such card or card account as the
employee may elect, using such card or card account at financial institutions participating in such network system
(well
at least ALEC let you get your money out - but I bet you have to leave a
balance in there in order for the card to stay active for your employer)
And
that's exactly what happened with me - with the seasonal, part-time job I had a
couple years ago. I HAD to take my pay
by debit card - and I really didn't care ‘cause it was only for three months
and it WAS NOT my main money to pay my living expenses.
BUT what
if they started applying it to ALL jobs?
Now if
you don't have a bank account
- you're
screwed
- cause
your employer can say
- No cash!
- No payroll checks!
You have to use the payroll debit card that
is owned by our ALEC corporate sector friend.
Who gets
screwed? - the poor and working class, of course.
ALEC AND
ALEC legislators don't give a damn about anyone except their corporate sector /
private enterprise members.
Who
comes out smelling like a rose and making huge profits on this - the banks and
credit card companies. (The ALEC
corporate sector / private enterprise bank and credit card member companies)
They
have already done this in some states for unemployment and welfare payments -
credit/debit card only and in some states the person using the debit/credit
card HAS TO PAY a transaction fee.
So LOOK OUT!
I bet executives wouldn't put up with this
kind of payroll crap
from their employer - I'd like to see
them get their paycheck on a debit card
I bet a legislator wouldn't put up this
kind of payroll crap
from the state government- I'd like to see
them get their paycheck on a debit card
This is what your ALEC legislator WASTES their time on at ALEC
meeting - making sure ALEC corporate members can look forward to MORE
BUSINESS and MORE PROFITS at some time in the future.
BUT, what if they started applying it to ALL jobs?
WELL – they are trying – using this very ALEC legislation.
Point in time:
Which would allow employers to pay their employees using payroll
cards.
Visa, "Chairman" level sponsor of 2011 ALEC Annual Conference[17] ($50,000 in 2010)[18] and sponsor of
the August 5th, 2011, Plenary Session speech of FreedomWorks' Dick Armey.[12]
Also member of ALEC's Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force[42]
Point in time
NOW
New Hampshire
Legislation
SB 100 –AS INTRODUCED
2013 SESSION
13-0906
06/05
SENATE BILL 100
AN ACT authorizing electronic
payment of payroll.
SPONSORS: Sen. Bradley, Dist 3;
Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Rep. Umberger, Carr 2; Rep. Butler, Carr 7
COMMITTEE: Commerce
ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Deletes the requirement that an
employer who pays wages by electronic fund transfer offer employees the option
of being paid by check.
II. Modifies the definition of
“payroll card account.”
Deletes the requirement that an employer who pays wages by electronic fund transfer offer employees the option of being paid by check
That’s what happens when you have ALEC corporate “model” legislation that
makes it way into your statehouse.
I wonder if VISA pays the American Legislative Exchange
Council using a debit card. Probably not - they get a check.
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