A Dane County judge has struck down Act 10.
Judge Jacob Frost yesterday declared the 2011 law that changed how public sector unions could negotiate their contracts to be unconstitutional because some police officers in the state were covered by the law’s restrictions, while others were not. The ruling comes 13 years after Act 10 first passed, and after a raft of earlier challenges in both state and federal court. None of those other courts found problems with Act 10, but Frost said the law must be changed. Unions and Democrats across the state cheered the ruling as a victory. Republican lawmakers, and some local government leaders said Act 10 has saved taxpayers 16 billion-dollars over the past decade-plus. They worry the end of Act 10 will mean tax increases and more government spending.
When it comes to reaction, we will show you different sides so you can decide.
Democrats and public sector unions in Wisconsin are taking a victory lap after a Dane County judge struck down Act 10. The judge yesterday ruled the 2011 law unconstitutional. Progressive Milwaukee lawmaker Ryan Clancy says the judge’s decision returns collective bargaining power to workers, while the state’s largest teachers union said the ruling restores the powers that were taken away more than a decade ago.
Across the aisle, Republican lawmakers say the end of Act 10 could bring-back the skyrocketing costs that had many local school districts raising taxes year-after-year. The top Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly said Act 10 has saved taxpayers 16-billion dollars over the past 13 years. He worries all of those savings will now disappear.
