Wis. judge declares union law not in effect

[Roy Rolling]

Source: USA Today

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge ruled Thursday the state's divisive new collective bargaining law was not in effect — a clear warning to Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration that it risks sanctions should it continue with its preparations to begin deducting money from public employees' paychecks.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi issued her declaration a day after Republican Gov. Scott Walker's aides said they believed the law was processed correctly and that they would continue efforts to enact it, despite a warning from Sumi to halt such efforts.

It was unclear what Walker would do next. His spokesman had no immediate comment on the declaration.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-31-wisconsin-union-budget_N.htm

[adigal]

1. It appears he is willing to test the power of the Executive branch

to see if he can really be a little dictator.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. I think Wisc and Florida are test sites.

[BadgerKid]

14. IMO, the "test" sites are all spread out (OH, MI, WI, FL, ...). n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Begin deductions from public employee paychecks?

:wtf:

[caseymoz]

11. Yes, I saw that, the story's mistaken.

They mean stopping deductions from employee paychecks for union dues.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Oh. Ok.

Well, that makes sense. Thanks.

[Roy Rolling]

3. Walker's response

His legal team is preparing a handwritten one-page response. They are looking for loose-leaf paper as we speak . . . :hide:

[lark]

5. Come on Scott, I double dog dare you!!

You think you are so damn tough, hurting WI workers, let's see how tough you are when you defy the law and get thrown in jail. That would be so very very sweet & deserved!!!

[WillyT]

6. HUGE K & R !!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

:kick:

[radhika]

7. I've had a lurking suspicion about the Bagger governors...

I think these Repug and their backers are fully intend to get their union-busting, benefit-stripping measures into SCOTUS. Because -- tada, conspiracy alert - it's already understood that the SCOTUS majority is on board to rubber stamp it. This would make it settled law, easy to implement in all other states.

[Plucketeer]

12. That's my thinking too

SCOTUS would provide yet one more nail for the coffin of organized labor. I HATE guns. But I've found myself thinking about buying one as a hedge against the looming meltdown(s)

[caseymoz]

13. Good theory, but the challenge to the law is from the WI sunshine law.

Hardly something the SCOTUS would adjudicate. The law is being challenged for the way Walker suddenly stripped the bill of any appropriations and put it through the all-Repub Senate that was hastily gathered, and not open to the public as the open-public-meetings law said it had to be.

There might be other grounds if this fails, but it's really being challenged for procedure, not for it being illegal to strip workers of collective bargaining rights. That's not something likely to reach the SCOTUS, and if so, the ruling is likely to be pretty narrow, and not on what's really in the bill.

[elleng]

16. Good clarification. Thoughts on 'sanctions' she might impose?

[iwishiwas]

19. Correct. At this point it is not about the substance of the bill.

[pdefalla]

17. You're dead on

That explains the strange invulnerability the Republican governors seem to feel.

[Sonicwall]

8. Walker and his entire administration are risking a Class I felony

as long as they implement the law defying the order.

Violation of a temporary restraining order is a class I felony, punishable up to 3.5 years in prison.

If Sumi deems fit, then she should sign an bench warrant ordering the arrest of the entire Walker administration and thrown into jail for at least 30 days for contempt of court.

With Walker having a felony record, he no longer qualifies as a Governor, and must resign accordingly, making way for an special election.

[woodsprite]

9. Walker and his administration need to be made an example of

and they need to be treated as the criminals that they are. I hope she follows through with it.

[BadgerKid]

15. Let there be bench warrants!

[SoapBox]

10. I wish she would order Gov. Hosni Walker to be arrested...

...let's hope he just keeps trying and she orders a contempt order.

Put his ass in JAIL.