Will Act 10 Ruling Be Put on Hold?
DE PERE, WI--Wisconsin's attorney general IS taking steps to ensure the state's controversial collective bargaining law remains in effect. Tuesday, J.B. Van Hollen asked the Dane County Circuit court for a "stay" pending an appeal.
Meanwhile, Governor Walker was in De Pere Tuesday and gave his thoughts on the latest with Act 10. Governor Walker says he's hopeful a stay will be granted, if not he says local governments and school districts will likely suffer.
This, as union members are given renewed hope that some bargaining rights will be restored.
A year and seven months after protesters took to the capitol, a ray of hope is in sight. A Dane County judge strikes down Act 10. But Governor Walker and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen are fighting back. Van Hollen filed a motion to keep the law as is until a final decision can be reached.
"If the law is not going to be found unconstitutional in the end it would be very unfortunate if the will of the people is impeded in the meantime, by having the law taken out of effect," said Van Hollen in a phone interview with NBC 26's Deandra Corinthios.
Van Hollen says if a stay is not granted. school districts and local governments will deal with confusion. Something Governor Walker, says could get messy and even lead to layoffs. Walker says many entities saved money in their budgets because of Act 10.
"If that went back to the old system and they weren't able to do that. That's money they would have to make up somewhere. Overwhelmingly, for local governments that would come out of staffing, and I don't think we want to go down that path," said Governor Walker.
But unions are holding out hope. In an interview Monday. Mark Westphal, president of the Fox Valley Labor Council, says he is feeling "cautiously optimistic."
"I think we will see some renewed vigor and enthusiasm coming out of workers especially going into the fall elections," said Westphal.
No word yet on when the Dane County Circuit Court will rule on the stay. If a stay is not granted, Attorney General Van Hollen says he'll push for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear the case as soon as possible.
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