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Thursday, March 14, 2013

ALEC - Screwing with Your Paycheck


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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