A state lawmaker wants to restore civil rights protections for UW and state employees.
State Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) says US Supreme Court decisions over the past decade have eroded protections for employees of the state and UW system. Mason says the state's sovereign immunity not to be sued by individuals now trumps the equal protection granted under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As a result, Mason says many state employees are unable to take action in federal court if laws are violated.
Mason is introducing legislation that would restore those civil rights and allow state workers to sue in federal court if they're discriminated against. The Racine Democrat says they deserve the same protections that any private employee is provided with.