Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

[Riot]

These guys are simply unbelievable ... this would be like Congress telling the Supreme Court to go eff themselves, they can't rule on the constitutionality or legality of any law the the Congress made, and they will ignore any rulings the court makes.

It's bad enough Walkers "budget bill" ends up costing the state money, rather than saving it. Now he's costing the state hundreds of thousands defending itself from multiple lawsuits, and he's only been in office since January (sorta like what happened when Walker worked for the county, and illegally fired people and hired a private contractor - which all had to be undone and paid for, too)

State will continue implementing collective bargaining law despite judge's order

MARY SPICUZZA and CLAY BARBOUR - Wisconsin State Journal madison.com
Posted: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 8:15 pm

State officials are moving ahead with changes to collective bargaining rules for public employees despite a judge's order barring the law's implementation — and a threat of sanctions against anyone who violates it.

Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said Wednesday he has a legal obligation to implement all laws passed by the Legislature, signed by Gov. Scott Walker and published into law. Huebsch said the Department of Justice and his own legal counsel, a team of DOA attorneys, agree the measure has met those requirements "and is now effective law."

"It is my duty to administer that law," he said.

Huebsch's latest comments raise questions about whether he or others could face sanctions following a hearing Tuesday, when Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi said any further implementation of the law is prohibited under a temporary court order.

"Now that I've made my earlier order as clear as it possibly can be, I must state that those who act in open and willful defiance of the court order place not only themselves at peril of sanctions, they also jeopardize the financial and the governmental stability of the state of Wisconsin," Sumi said Tuesday.

Sumi was referring to a March 18 ruling that a legislative committee likely violated the state's open meetings law when it rushed passage of the bill earlier this month. That order also barred Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law.

Much more at: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...tml?mode=story

[hi_im_god]

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/30...ng-bug-42.html

[Riot]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/30...ng-bug-42.html

[GenuineRisk]

Third time's the charm...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...it.php?ref=fpa

[Riot]

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/rele...31laborers.pdf

This afternoon Dane County Firefighters, AFSCME Local 60 (Dane county workers), and Madison Laborers amended the complaint of their earlier lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the passage of the collective bargaining bill, with a broader attack on the unconstitutional substance of the collective bargaining bill.

The first argument raised in the amended complaint is that the bill violates the Wisconsin constitution on equal protection grounds, because union government employees are treated significantly different than non-union employees under the bill:

"These provisions treat those employees who are represented by public sector labor organizations in ways that are different in significant respects from the ways in which they treat employees who are not represented by any labor organization; and they treat some limited number of public sector employees who are represented by labor organizations in ways that are different from the ways in which they treat most employees who are represented by public sector labor organizations, thereby creating unnecessary conflict among employees and divisions within and among public sector labor organizations."

And in more fun news, Judge Prosser (R running for State Supreme Court re-election Tuesday) - former Governor Patrick Lucey, honorary chairman of Prossers re-election campaign, today BOWED OUT and endorsed Prosser's opponent, Kloppenburg.

"I have followed with increasing dismay and now alarm the campaign of Justice David Prosser, whom I endorsed at the outset of his campaign and in whose campaign I serve as the honorary co-chairman," Lucey said in the statement. "I can no longer in good conscience lend my name and support to Justice Prosser's candidacy. Too much has come to light that Justice Prosser has lost that most crucial of characteristics for a Supreme Court Justice -- as for any judge -- even-handed impartiality. Along with that failing has come a disturbing distemper and lack of civility that does not bode well for the High Court in the face of demands that are sure to be placed on it in these times of great political and legal volatility."

This is important, as all this union-busting stuff is going to make it to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, currently 5-4 conservative. Unless Prosser loses to Kloppenburg Tuesday. Prosser has publicly stated he'll generally support the Republican view. That's not judicial objectivity.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/27392391/detail.html

[Riot]

Wisconsin Democrats now say they have more than enough signatures to launch a recall of Republican state Sen. Dan Kapanke, in the battle over Gov. Scott Walker's (R) new law curtailing public employee unions. They are filing the petitions today -- less than halfway through the 60-day window for gathering the signatures.

Recall organizer Pat Scheller said volunteers have gathered more than the 15,588 signatures needed and that they plan to take them to Madison after a noon rally today at La Crosse City Hall.

It is expected to be the first completed of 19 active recall efforts registered between Feb. 24 and March 2 against 16 senators.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...an-kapanke.php

Each recall filed starts the process leading to a recall election, so it's suspected that several petitions will be gathered together so there are not 14-19 different elections this spring. The GOP is supposed to be trying to recall the Dems, too, but there doesn't seem to be as big an active public presence for that. The Dems want to take 3 seats, to shift the legistlature back to Democratic.

[Riot]

It appears the GOP thinks their legal defense only needs to be, unbelievably, "Judge,we refuse to appear in your court - so take away the restraining order until we have the time to give you some time"

The strange thing is this: the GOP could make this all go away, by simply just re-passing the bill in the legislature and the senate. So why isn't Walker doing that? Just re-vote on the bill.

The only reason could be that he no longer has the votes to pass his union-busting bill The overwhelming public anger and the recalls must have scared off GOP who would not vote the same way again.

Bargaining bill restraining order remains in effect; DA rests case

Judge Maryann Sumi's temporary restraining order against the implementation of the collective bargaining bill will remain in effect indefinitely.

The plaintiff in the case, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, rested his side of the case this afternoon, but Sumi said she could not set a date to take more testimony because the GOP legislators named as defendants in the case are still covered under legislative immunity.

Assistant AG Maria Lazar had asked for the restraining order to be vacated, arguing the hearing could not conclude without the participation of defendants Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Senate President Mike Ellis, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald and Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder.

But Sumi said that just as those lawmakers are entitled to their day in court, they are also not entitled to the suspension of the current restraining order.

"It remains in effect until further order of the court," Sumi said, adding that she doesn't know when that will be. The judge said the defendants in question could waive their immunity, allow their attorneys to move forward without them or wait until their immunity expires.

Bob Jambois, attorney for Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, responded that if those lawmakers "find this to be an inconvenience," they would still be able to pass the bill again with 24 hours notice of a conference committee hearing and legislative sessions.

Sumi requested briefs from both sides on seeking declaratory judgment, the nature of indispensible parties in the case and time limits for service of process while immunity is in effect. That brief is due April 25 for the district attorney's office, followed by defendants' briefs on May 16 and a reply from the DA on May 23

Wispolitics

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/rele...31laborers.pdf



And in more fun news, Judge Prosser (R running for State Supreme Court re-election Tuesday) - former Governor Patrick Lucey, honorary chairman of Prossers re-election campaign, today BOWED OUT and endorsed Prosser's opponent, Kloppenburg.



This is important, as all this union-busting stuff is going to make it to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, currently 5-4 conservative. Unless Prosser loses to Kloppenburg Tuesday. Prosser has publicly stated he'll generally support the Republican view. That's not judicial objectivity.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/27392391/detail.html

If the citizens of WI elect an idiot like Kloppenburg our state is doomed. The ads running supporting her are just insane. See below for response to one of those ads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1b-eg-O9O4

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by wiphan

If the citizens of WI elect an idiot like Kloppenburg our state is doomed. The ads running supporting her are just insane. See below for response to one of those ads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1b-eg-O9O4

anyone making a decision on who to vote for based on a campaign ad is deciding what to wear in a sideshow mirror.

ad's are slanted. theirs are. so are yours. it's in their nature.

i'm surprised anyone gets worked up over these.

it's like having true passion for pepsi. i think you only think that brand of fizzy sugar water tastes better. and maybe it really does to you.

but using the pepsi challenge as evidence only reinforces the idea you're an idiot.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

If the citizens of WI elect an idiot like Kloppenburg our state is doomed.

Looks like it's pretty doomed right now, with your Governor whose budget will increase your debt, not cut it.

You think it's better to keep the guy who called his boss "bitch", threatened to "destroy her", and has said he'll act as a "compliment" to Walker?

Seems he's offended quite a few people with his arrogant rudeness. Too bad for him it came out right before his re-election.

And talk about "judicial activism" - he's running for election, for the position as an impartial judge, by stating his political biases and promising to fulfill them? Yeah, let's have more of that