Wisconsin Union Law To Take Effect Tomorrow?

Er, maybe.

It depends on how a bill officially becomes a law. Is it when the Secretary of State orders its official publication or when something called The Legislative Reference Bureau actually publishes it?

A judge last week issued a temporary restraining order blocking any further implementation of the law while the court considers challenges to its approval. The order specifically blocked (Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug) La Follette from publishing the law.

But the Reference Bureau said it's still required to publish every new law within 10 working days after it's signed by the governor, on the date designated by the secretary of state.

Walker signed the collective bargaining measure March 11 and La Follette had designated Friday as the date of publication. But after the judge's restraining order, La Follette had sent a letter to the Reference Bureau saying he was rescinding his setting of that as the publication date.

Walker's top aide Mike Huebsch, secretary of the Department of Administration, issued a statement saying he had been notified that the law had been published.

"The administration will carry out the law as required," Huebsch said.

John Jagler, a spokesman for Republican Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, said he assumed the action means the law takes effect on Saturday.

It seems the Legislative Reference Bureau is relying on the legal principle of "no backsies".

There's more to how a law officially becomes a law than Schoolhouse Rock let on. Usually though it's just technical stuff like adding it to the official register of laws and publishing notice that happens without any fuss. Well, this being Wisconsin, Democrats and unions...there's going to be fuss.

Either way, I'm sure the Democrats are running to a friendly judge (who isn't on vacation) to get this stopped but we'll have to wait and see.

Via Wisconsin political guy Kevin Binversie

posted by DrewM. at 07:48 PM

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