Senate Leaders LeMahieu, Agard, Release Opposing Reaction to Act 10 Ruling

A Dane County circuit court judge has declared parts of Wisconsin’s Act 10 in violation of the state Constitution’s Equal Protection clause.  The act, which sharply restricted public employee union power, permitted police, firefighters and other public safety workers to retain their collective bargaining rights while removing most such privilege from other public workers, a policy which the judge said is unconstitutional.

Democrat minority leader Senator Melissa Agard of Madison praised the ruling, saying that “While we celebrate this pro-labor ruling (tonight), we musts not stop until Act 10 is overturned and collective bargaining is restored for all public sector workers.”

Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg, though, suggested that the decision will be challenged.  Lemahieu said that “Act 10 has been found legal and constitutional against multiple state and federal court actions for close to 15 years.  This is yet another example of courts legislating from the bench.”, and he continued that “Unfortunately, if this decision stands, it will cost Wisconsin’s hard-working families millions of dollars.”