The state Assembly passed two separate bills Wednesday, which would allow Wisconsin employers to reduce work hours for their employees instead of resorting to lay offs as a cost-cutting measure and would eliminate the secretary of state’s role in publishing new legislation.
The “unemployment insurance” bill, which would create a work-share program intended to protect workers from labor cuts, was passed with bipartisan support despite early controversy stemming from the bill’s allowance of employers to reduce unionized workers’ hours without first negotiating with their union.
Assembly Republicans tabled a Democratic amendment that would have created additional protections for collective-bargaining agreements in the bill. Republicans said in a statement the amendment was unnecessary because the bill would still require employers to adhere to state and federal labor laws honoring union bargaining rights.
The bill will now go before the state Senate.
The other piece of legislation, SB2, would ensure that legislation becomes effective the day after the governor signs it, circumventing the current process that allows the secretary of state 10 days after the governor’s approval to tell the Legislative Reference Bureau to officially publish legislation.
The secretary would retain the power to choose a date within the 10-day span when the Wisconsin State Journal, the official state newspaper, may announce the signed legislation.
Opponents of the bill claim it is politically motivated, because Secretary of State Doug La Follette allegedly delayed publishing Act 10, the controversial 2011 legislation that cut public-union bargaining rights, the maximum number of days.
Multiple opponents of SB2 filed lawsuits against it in the 10-day span following Gov. Scott Walker’s signature.
La Follette said waiting the full 10 days was standard office procedure, and that he did not intentionally leave time for the bill to be challenged in the courts.
“In the last two years, I published 97 percent of the acts the governor sent us on the 10th day,” La Follette said. “Because [the Republicans] need someone to blame, they’ve decided to blame me.”
Republicans deny Democratic accusations that the bill targets La Follette, claiming it will streamline the legislative process.
The bill will now move on to Walker, who will likely sign it. La Follette will wait the full 10 days to recommend that it be published, he said.
