Having lived through this two years ago in Michigan, I can tell you the insanity Wisconsin is in for, but then again the state that dealt with the Democrat fleebagger insanity isn't going to be surprised by too much. Republican leaders in the Wisconsin Legislature have decided to fast-track right-to-work through the legislative process, and Gov. Scott Walker has indicated he's ready to sign it:
That law could be on the books in a matter of weeks, potentially setting off protests at the state Capitol and prompting labor unions and management to quickly extend contracts to avoid compliance with right-to-work legislation. Such laws, adopted in 24 other states, prohibit private employers from negotiating a union contract that requires all workers to pay dues.
Democrats and top labor leaders slammed the proposal and accused Republicans and Walker -- a likely 2016 presidential candidate -- of ramming it through the Legislature with little public scrutiny.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, told reporters Friday that the not-yet introduced bill would take effect as soon as Walker signs it. Unions and management wishing to extend existing contracts before right-to-work becomes law would need to do so quickly, he said.
Walker had said he supports such legislation but repeatedly refused to say whether he would sign such a bill if passed. He referred to controversial right-to-work legislation as a "distraction" from his agenda. But Fitzgerald said Walker did not try to talk him out of taking up the bill.
"Walker co-sponsored right-to-work legislation as a lawmaker and supports the policy," Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said. "If this bill makes it to his desk, Governor Walker will sign it into law."
This is exactly what happened in Michigan. Exactly. And I'll tell you why it always happens this way. Because these bills typically allow a sunset for existing contracts, unions who see right-to-work coming will try to pressure employers into signing super long-term agreements - one school district in Michigan went as long as 15 years - to make it as hard as possible for employees to exercise their rights under right-to-work. The more warning you give the unionns, the more of this crap they have time to pull.
Second, once the unions know this is on the agenda they will create a ruckus the likes of which you have rarely seen. And of course, once you pass it, they'll practically tear the capital down in a collective fit of rage.
And like Walker, Michigan Gov. Snyder said right-to-work was not high on his agenda, and that he thought it would be a "distraction" (by which he meant the political firestorm, not the policy itself), but ultimately he signed it when the Legislature put it on his desk.
Wisconsin would follow the example of Midwest neighbors Michigan and Indiana in passing right-to-work, and it's been good for both states. Unemployment is down and business formation is up, in large part because employers are less worried about having to deal with all-powerful unions backed by union-friendly labor laws.
Some will say Walker is only doing this to burnish his presidential bona fides. To that I would say two things: 1. It's the Legislature that's leading this charge; and 2. If the way a guy wants to position himself to run for president is by doing his existing job effectively, that sounds like a pretty good approach to me.
