Wisconsin Gov. Tables Collective Bargaining Law (For Now)

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 31, 2011 6:47PM

After all the maneuvering, shouting, protests and court orders regarding Wisconsin's contentious collective bargaining law, it looks as though Gov. Scott Walker has decided to put on hold actually implementing the law, according to two top officials in Walker's administration.

Judge Maryann Sumi earlier today that the law had not taken effect and has warned Walker that his administration risked sanctions if he decided to move forward with a move to deduct money from public employees paychecks, as required under his new collective bargaining law. The law requires a majority of public sector workers to contribute more to their pension and health packages, resulting in an 8 percent pay cut. Judge Sumi also blocked Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law, which is usually the last step before the law actually goes into effect.

Wisconsin Republican leaders, in a move reminiscent of drunkenly becoming an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church online, instead got another state to publish the law online last Friday and declared it law Monday. The state then started the process of deducting the added money from workers' paychecks. Republican leaders have long contended that Sumi's rulings had no basis due to the separation of powers. But the judicial branch is supposed to be there to check legislative overreach.