Judge Rules Against Wisconsin Budget Law
May 31, 2011
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Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi dealt a serious blow to GOP Governor Scott Walker’s blatant union-busting when she granted a permanent injunction that voids the law eliminating collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin public-sector workers. The case will now go to the state Supreme Court.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court retained its conservative majority after a special election victory by progressive candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg in April was overturned when a county election official “found” thousands of votes for the conservative candidate on her home computer days after the polls closed.
Judge Sumi’s decision to void Walker’s budget bill cites a violation of the state’s open meeting law that requires a 24-hour notice, and as little as two-hour notice for good cause, to the public for action on legislation. The GOP majority rushed passage of the bill in just a half hour.
“The right of the people to monitor the people’s business is one of the core principles of democracy,” said Sumi, citing an earlier Wisconsin Supreme Court decision.
