MADISON (WSAU) A judge in Madison said it’s “crystal clear” that the state law to limit bargaining by public unions will not be in effect while she considers various legal issues. After a day of testimony, Judge Maryann Sumi re-affirmed her restraining order from March 18th, which blocked the union law before Republicans used a new maneuver to put it into effect. Sumi said her original restraining order was quote, “misunderstood or ignored,” and said those who violate it could face court sanctions.
But the judge also refused to nullify last Friday’s publication of the union law – and she called for another hearing on Friday to hear more legal arguments about it. State Justice officials say the law “absolutely” remains in effect for now. They said the restraining order applies only to the secretary-of-state – and not to others who got the Legislative Reference Bureau to publish the law on the Legislature’s Web site last week. That was different from the normal practice, in which the secretary-of-state has the bureau publish new laws in the state’s official newspaper a day before they effect.
The Walker administration started carrying out the union law last weekend. It stopped deducting union dues from state employees’ salaries, and started raising the workers’ shares for their pensions and health insurance – both of which the law requires. Whether that will continue remains uncertain. Administration Secretary Mike Huebschwould only say last night that he’s evaluating the judge’s ruling.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne filed the complaint which led to yesterday’s proceeding. He said legislators broke the state Open Meeting Law when they passed the union restrictions on March 9th. Judge Sumi must still decide that question. Two other lawsuits are pending to strike down the union law outright. Those actions are still pending.
