The incoming state Senate President says expect a different approach in dealing with unions this legislative session. Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) is critical of policies over the past two years, pushed through during the Democratic controlled legislature and Governor’s office.
“They (unions) had an absolute fun time in Madison. The labor people got just about everything they wanted.”
He cites as an example, changes last year to teacher contract bargaining law contained in the state budget. The new rules don’t require factoring in local economic conditions and potential effects on revenue control.
Ellis says this could lead to “blowing a hole” in the revenue control and lead to shortages for other public services.
“We need to put the tax payer at the front of the class,” the Neenah Republican tells WIBA.
The long standing Qualified Economic Offer was eliminated in June of 2009 and took effect in July of this year. Unions claimed the QEO was a pay cap that stifled innovation from teachers.