State officials are moving ahead with changes to collective bargaining for public employees. Governor Scott Walker’s Administration Secretary, Mike Huebsch, said it doesn’t matter that Secretary of State Doug La Follette has been enjoined from setting a date for the law to go into effect. “Under the statute he has indicated the date that’s required,” said Huebsch. “As you take a look at the analysis in statute, the LRB is required to publish the bill after ten days. That has been met and we’ve fulfilled that requirement.” Huebsch said DOA believes the law went into effect following Friday’s on-line publication by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Various attorneys at the state and local level have weighed in on whether or not Walker’s changes to collective bargaining are now law. “It’s clear that for as many attorneys as you wish to ask, you’re going to get an opinion on this particular law and the status of it,” said Huebsch. Huebsch said that barring a court order, state employees will receive paychecks with withholdings for health care and pensions, and restored union dues, on April 21st.