A Wisconsin judge on Thursday voided a controversial Republican-backed law restricting the collective bargaining rights of public-sector unions. Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi said Republican lawmakers violated the state's open meetings law in rushing the legislation through during massive protests at the state Capitol earlier this year.
The Wisconsin proposal, championed by Republican Governor Scott Walker, eliminates most collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions and requires them to pay more for pensions and health coverage.
The law has been on hold pending the legal challenge. Mike Tate, chairman of the state's Democratic Party, which opposed the measure, hailed the ruling, and said: "It should be looked at as an opportunity to work together to find common sense solutions to grow our economy and get our fiscal house in order, not to tear our state apart." Sumi, who was appointed by former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson, ruled that the evidence was "clear and convincing" that Republicans failed to comply with the law in a hastily called meeting in March to push through legislation containing the collective bargaining changes.
"The legislators were understandably frustrated by the stalemate existing on March 9, but that does not justify jettisoning compliance with the open meetings law in an attempt to move the budget repair bill to final action," Sumi wrote. "Moreover, if there is any doubt as to the committee's awareness of its violation, one need only read the short transcript of the committee's March 9 proceedings." Sumi said the legislators had the opportunity to correct their violation without admitting error, but failed to do so.
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