The Wisconsin state Assembly approved controversial right-to-work legislation Friday morning, after a grueling 24 hour debate. The party line, 62-35 vote clears the way for Governor Scott Walker to sign the bill on Monday.
In post vote comments to reporters, Assembly minority leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) called the legislation, which was the subject of numerous protests by labor groups, “an example of right-wing fanaticism on steroids.”
“There are so many reasons why ‘Right to Work’ is wrong for Wisconsin. It will drive down wages and hurt our middle class and small businesses. It will interfere with private-sector business practices. It will put our state’s great training programs at risk,” Barca said in a prepared statement.
As the debate wound to a close, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington), said the bill (SB-44) represents “the power to do and choose what you want, that’s what we are fighting for today. We are fighting for liberty.”
