MADISON, Wis. - That budget repair bill that would strip most Wisconsin public employees of many collective bargaining rights is causing mass confusion, as some say it's now law and others say "not so fast." Today a Dane County judge will revisit the issue, after she blocked publication of the law by the Secretary of State last week. Republicans pushed to have the law published by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau instead, and say that meets the requirement for enactment.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca of Kenosha says all these maneuvers have poisoned the legislative atmosphere.
"Now you're afraid to turn your back to the rostrum in the state Assembly for fear they're going to roll a vote on you or turn off your microphone, or just not follow the laws of our state."
State workers say they don't even know when their pay will officially change to reflect higher pension and health care deductions included in the bill which may, or may not, be the law of the land.
Barca says the current mistrust and highly-partisan maneuvering is not serving the people of Wisconsin well.
"I hope that at some point reasonable voices will prevail and we'll get back to normal business."
Today's hearing, scheduled for 8:30 a.m., is expected to focus on possible violations of the open meetings law when the measure was passed.
