Posted on 03/29/2011 3:15:43 PM PDT by Beaten Valve
MADISON, Wis. -- A Wisconsin judge weighed arguments Tuesday about whether her court order intended to temporarily block the state's divisive new collective bargaining law was still in place, or whether Republican leaders had outmaneuvered their opponents by using a legal loophole.
The Dane County district attorney is trying to keep the secretary of state from publishing the bill.
But with Legislative Reference Bureau has already published it, leading to questions here about whether it's a law or not.
The court action stems from a conference committee meeting March 9 that led to the quick passage of the bill limiting collective bargaining for public employees.
The same judge less than two weeks ago put a freeze on the bill being published by the secretary of state, but the Legislative Reference Bureau published it Friday regardless.
"I am extremely upset that we have this situation where a law that is in my opinion, I'm sorry, an act that is not a law in my opinion, is being interpreted to be law and is being carried out by officials of the state of Wisconsin," Secretary of State Douglas LaFollette said.
Much of the testimony Tuesday surrounded that publication Friday by the Legislative Reference Bureau, and it was revealed that it was prompted by a request from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Friday and the judge didn't make any decisions Tuesday.
"He is our boss. So a request from him would be, would be something on the level of insisting," Cathlene Hanaman said.
But the head of the Legislative Reference Bureau said he made the ultimate decision to publish the bill.
"It was me. I decided. I decided that we would publish," Legislative Reference Bureau Chief Stephen Miller said.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Friday and the judge didn't make any decisions Tuesday.
Official amended Temp Restraining Order continues to prohibit Sec. of State from publishing in state newspaper. Does not add DOA.
http://twitter.com/#!/news3jessica
given that municipalites are using is as published law, then it is clear the issue is moot. The democrats were outmanuvered.
even so this judge lost jurisdiction to make any ruling since it is at the appelate level.
Amended TRO also does NOT declare that the bill is not law. Sumi said she needed to hear more arguments to that effect.
http://twitter.com/#!/news3jessica
Just heard on Fox news the judge stopped implementation of the new law.
Who/What is the DOA?
jsonline reported today that the judge ordered the state to pay for private attorneys for LaFollette because he disagrees with the DOJ attorneys.
DOA = Department of Administration.
Thanks.
You’re welcome.
This is the same Judge who’s son works for the Unions?
That old lefty should be impeached, or recalled.
He’s had the job for 37 years and he’s only elected because of name recognition. From what I understand Tommy Thompson took away all powers from the office years ago.
Good.
“I am extremely upset that we have this situation where a law that is in my opinion, I’m sorry, an act that is not a law in my opinion, is being interpreted to be law and is being carried out by officials of the state of Wisconsin,”
The “Act” was passed by both chambers of the State Legislature, the Governor signed it. It’s The Law! LaFollett decided, on his own, to drag his feet in publishing The Law until the 10 business day limit. Thereby giving time for the lawyers and their crybaby unionist democrats to come up with a new and exciting way to bring an activist judge into the game and create a Temporary Restraining Order out of thin air.
Don’t blubber to me, Mr. Secretary, about how you think things should be. You’re the one who has wiped his a$$ with the State Constitution.
Not all powers. He’s being very annoying. He came up on my radar when he started harrassing a friend of mine over his flag pole in Door County. He’s an un-American leftist. Moreover, he’s either totally unrelated to Bob LaFollette, or he’s so distantly related that it shouldn’t count. He should be retired.
Uh oh! It looks like we are headed for a big foodfight as the judge has ordered a halt to implemenetation of the law. This should be interesting.
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