Forward to the Past

[LDAHL]

Way back in 2011, Wisconsin passed a controversial law that significantly reduced the power of public employee unions. It required a majority vote of affected emptiness (not just a majority of those who showed up to vote) to certify a union, it also required unions to collect dues directly from members rather than by employers through payroll withholding. Employees were required to pay half the cost of their pension contributions.

Needless to say, the unions, their allies and dependents were furious. Democratic senators fled the state in an attempt to block a quorum. Mobs of truant teachers attempted to blockade the State House. Fellow travelers, cash and megaphones flooded into the state to make as much noise as possible. In future years such antics might have been called an “insurrection”, but in those more innocent times it was “this is what democracy looks like”. After it passed and was signed into law, there were recall elections against various elected officials the unions wanted to punish, mostly unsuccessfully. There were also a number of equally unsuccessful lawsuits over the years.

And now a County judge has ruled that much of the law is unconstitutional. Since we have a State Supreme Court election coming up in April, IÂ’m now expecting to be deluged yet again in political ads, texts and emails. ItÂ’s all so very annoying.

[iris lilies]

Way back in 2011, Wisconsin passed a controversial law that significantly reduced the power of public employee unions. It required a majority vote of affected emptiness (not just a majority of those who showed up to vote) to certify a union, it also required unions to collect dues directly from members rather than by employers through payroll withholding. Employees were required to pay half the cost of their pension contributions.

Needless to say, the unions, their allies and dependents were furious. Democratic senators fled the state in an attempt to block a quorum. Mobs of truant teachers attempted to blockade the State House. Fellow travelers, cash and megaphones flooded into the state to make as much noise as possible. In future years such antics might have been called an “insurrection”, but in those more innocent times it was “this is what democracy looks like”. After it passed and was signed into law, there were recall elections against various elected officials the unions wanted to punish, mostly unsuccessfully. There were also a number of equally unsuccessful lawsuits over the years.

And now a County judge has ruled that much of the law is unconstitutional. Since we have a State Supreme Court election coming up in April, IÂ’m now expecting to be deluged yet again in political ads, texts and emails. ItÂ’s all so very annoying.

so, this law hasn’t been challenged in court until now? That seems odd for something so controversial.

[LDAHL]

so, this law hasn’t been challenged in court until now? That seems odd for something so controversial.

I think four or five times over the years. I think this time the unions are counting on a narrow liberal majority on the WI Supreme Court. That could change when one seat comes up for re-election in April. Weirdly enough we elect judges here.