Tens of thousands of public workers and their supporters demonstrated at the Capitol in February and March to oppose the collective bargaining changes. They have returned in smaller numbers this week as the Legislature prepared to take up the state budget, and thousands of people rallied on the Capitol lawn shortly after the court issued its order.
“I had a sickening feeling in my stomach,” said Barbara James, a Madison middle school teacher who demonstrated at the Capitol.
In a major blow to Wisconsin state workers last week, the supreme court ruled that Republican law makers were not in violation of the State’s open meeting laws when they passed Scott Walker’s infamous anti-union bill.
For months the new bill had been tied up in court following a ruling against the legislture given by Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi, following a lawsuit launched on behalf of state workers.
Secretary of State, Doug La Follette, plans to publish the bill soon, at which point it will become law.
