Apparently they don't realize that their conduct is likely to backfire against them in future elections. Or they just don't care what anyone other than the extremists in their base, and their corporate big money donors want.
That suggests to me an inherent disregard for the basis of representative government and for the state and U.S. Constitutions.
from this morning's STrib:
Wisconsin judge strikes down union law; state Supreme Court to hear arguments next monthWill the GOP in either WI or MN learn from the recent election in the New York Congressional District? Or are they too power mad to think clearly? I'm guessing the latter, given their habit of overreaching.
MADISON, Wis. - A Wisconsin judge has struck down a law taking away nearly all collective bargaining rights from most state workers.
Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled Thursday that Republican legislators violated Wisconsin's open meetings law during the run up to passage. She says that renders the law void.
The law pushed by Gov. Scott Walker takes away all bargaining rights except over base salary for teachers and other public workers.
The decision is not the end of the legal fight. The state Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for June 6 to determine whether it will take the same case.
Lawmakers could also pass the law again in order to nullify open meeting concerns that led to the judge's ruling Thursday.
Agreed. They are too blinded by their chosen culturally-received ideology to see the rational, pragmatic road. The fallout from this will continue for quite some time--for the Republican party, and for the rest of us, too.
ReplyDeleteWhile the political wisdom of curbing the collective bargaining of public employees is questionable, at best, the legality of it is beyond question. The legislature, unfortunately, *may* have violated Wisconsin's public meeting laws, and if so, then the Wisconsin Supreme Court (regrettably, an elected body and therefore not truly judicially independent), will have to decide whether this casts a fatal blow to the legislation. I suspect that the Wisconsin court will ultimately decide that it does not, as given the circumstances, it seems to me that the spirit of the law was obeyed, if not the exact specifics. Everyone, including the democratic representatives, knew exactly when votes were going to be taken. The only question is whether a time period was obeyed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Sacred. There is serious question that, as you stated, "Everyone, including the democratic representatives, knew exactly when votes were going to be taken." Apparently Democrats did not, as video showing votes occurring in the legislature demonstrate. Nor did the legislature allow a reasonable time for votes to be taken, cutting off nearly all democratic votes, and some Republican votes.
ReplyDeleteIt would be fair to assert that the Democrats relied on compliance with the law, a compliance that the Republicans did not provide.
"The only question is whether a time period was obeyed."
I suspect there will be a much greter set of questions than that, including whether or not Ms. Kloppenburg pursues a legal challenge to Mr. Prosser, which would keep him off the bench for this matter. If the vote is three three, it is my understanding the lower court ruling stands - in this case that the law is invalid.
Tuesday the 31st should be a big day in that regard, the last day that Klopeenburg can challenge the recount.
I personally hope she does, on the basis that the law was not follwoed and that the validity of the ballots is in question.