One of the most controversial provisions in the 2004 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill was an administration-sponsored effort to exempt certain classes of workers from overtime pay. Specifically, the administration-backed provision would exempt white-collar workers, such as executive assistants, administrators, and professionals, from overtime pay even if those employees worked in excess of forty hours in a workweek. During debate on the appropriations bill, Congressman Obey (D-WI) proposed an amendment which would have blocked the implementation of the overtime rules changes. Progressives viewed the administration's rules changes on overtime pay as an affront to both workers' rights and fair labor practices and they therefore voted in favor of Obey's proposal. Progressives also pointed out that many workers depend on overtime pay to provide for their families and that denying overtime pay would cause them financial hardship. Although Democrats voted almost unanimously in favor of Obey's measure, the amendment was narrowly defeated on a vote of 210-213.