Scott Walker is bulldozing ahead and implenting his new union-busting legislation, even though quite a few people think it's not actually law yet:
Gov. Scott Walker's administration no longer is collecting dues on behalf of state unions and, as of Sunday, is charging employees more for their pensions and health care, even though nonpartisan legislative attorneys say the changes are not yet law.
Backing up the administration, the state Department of Justice argued that the new law - which eliminates most collective bargaining for public workers - is in effect and asked a judge to vacate a restraining order against the law. Meanwhile, a Dane County prosecutor asked a judge to declare that the law is not now in place.
Highlighting the different legal interpretations, some local governments are not implementing the new law for their employees. Officials with the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County said they are waiting for answers from courts before making any changes on benefits and union dues.
Judge Maryann Sumi is in fact holding a hearing today on whether the legislation was properly passed, though any ruling she makes is almost certain to get appealed. In practical terms, Walker is potentially risking being found in contempt of court, for attempting to enforce something that isn't actually the law of the land. It also creates a total clusterf*ck for affected workers, whose paychecks are being toyed with; if Walker's bill is in fact blocked, the state will almost certainly have to refund the additional pension & healthcare surchages and collect the back dues it refused to withhold.
Of course, it's no surprise to see Walker both flout the rule of law and screw over regular folks at the same time. In fact, he probably thinks that makes for a pretty good day. Let's hope the courts determine otherwise.
(Discussion is already underway in diaries by Naranjadia and litho.)