State Supreme Court will hear ACT 10 challenge (MADISON)
The Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear a case that could overturn ACT 10. Act 10 went into effect 15 years ago, the work of then Governor Scott Walker and Republican majorities in the Wisconsin Legislature. As a result, public sector employees with the exception of law enforcement and firefighters lost collective bargaining rights. A Dane County Judge declared the law unconstitutional two years ago but allowed it to remain in place. A state appeals court overturned that decision in July. Now the Supreme Court, which has a liberal majority, will hear the case first brought by unions representing teachers and other public sector employees three years ago. This comes as new Democratic majorities in the Legislature are talking about a repeal of ACT 10.