Governor Walker signs AB-148 (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
The governor reacts to all the hoopla over the Supreme Court decision.
Wisconsin’s Secretary of State says he will wait until June 28 to officially publish the collective bargaining law. Governor Scott Walker isn’t fazed by that; he says one way or another it’ll be done before the next budget starts July 1st, and he says that’s what’s important.
“Obviously that’s the most important element for us. If it hadn’t been done through the courts, it would have probably been done through the legislative process. Either way, when we start the next fiscal year July 1, we need to have it in effect and it will be.”
The law would take effect on the day after publication, June 29. Meanwhile, the State AFL-CIO joins WEAC (the Wisconsin Education Association Council) and other union groups in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law.
Walker says it’s time to move forward. “The Supreme Court of the state of Wisconsin has been heard. I think overwhelmingly people around the state believe that legal action has been done. It’s time for us to move forward. I think ultimately that’s going to prevail.”
Whether the measure passes constitutional muster, Walker says he’ll leave that up to the lawyers to debate, but says the Supreme Court was clear in its ruling.
Walker’s comments come as he signs a bill into law that pays off some debt. It’s been dubbed “the bill that pays the bills.” Walker says, “What we’re doing today is cutting up those credit cards — the first step in cutting up those credit cards — and paying the bills.”
Among other things, AB 148 pays $235 million owed to the Patients Compensation Fund. The measure also offsets the $30 million that would have been realized with the enactment of the collective bargaining law.