Union Bill Is Law, but Debate Is Far From Over

By A. G. SULZBERGER
NYT

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker on Friday signed into law a bill that limits bargaining rights for most government workers, ending a rancorous legislative battle but doing little to stem a loud and continuing debate — here and around the country — over the future of unions.

Democrats and union leaders, emboldened by the huge outpouring of protesters who have rallied for weeks at the Capitol to oppose what they called a politically motivated effort to weaken unions, pledged to redouble their political, legal and legislative efforts to block measures that the governor had described as necessary to balance the budget.

Recall petitions continued to circulate against legislators from both parties. A lawsuit was filed challenging the unusual legislative maneuvering that preceded the bill’s passage. And Democratic leaders — despite holding minorities in both chambers — promised to revisit the legislation in the debate on the coming budget bill by introducing a series of amendments to undo provisions they consider damaging.

The new law was originally part of Mr. Walker’s comprehensive “budget repair bill,” but was extracted as a separate piece of legislation late on Wednesday in order to secure passage. The original budget bill was blocked when 14 Senate Democrats decamped for Illinois, depriving the Senate of the quorum needed to pass fiscal legislation.

(More here.)

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