Wisconsin Sends Union Bill To Supreme Court Home Care Path

On Thursday March 24, 2011 a three judge panel of the fourth district court of appeals sent the union bill to the state supreme court. Two of the issues requiring clarification involve the authority of a circuit court to rule on a violation of the states open meeting law, and court authority to stop the secretary of state from publishing the bill.

Recall that on March 11, 2011 Wisconsin held a special committee meeting of lawmakers which resulted in passage of a bill that removes collective bargaining rights from workers. Dane County (Madison Wisconsin) District Attorney Ismael Ozanne filed with Dane County Circuit Judge Mary Ann Sumi to block the bill stating the legislative committee violated the states open meetings law.

The three judge panel wrote "Plainly, this case has broad state wide implications for the general public and those directly affected by the challenged Act, in addition to those interested in the manner of its passage".

The open meeting law has been in place in Wisconsin since 1959. Open meeting law is known as sunshine law, which guarantees public has sunlight on processes and public is always aware of what is going on.

Recall that on Friday March 18, 2011 Dane County Judge Mary Ann Sumi issued a ruling to halt the publishing of this bill. This ruling prevented Secretary of State Doug La Follete from publishing the law. Dane County Judge Mary Ann Sumi ruled that the states open meeting laws were violated when a special committee met to reformat the budget repair bill, and in turn creating a bill dealing specifically with collective bargaining for state workers.

Citizens now wait for a time line in this specific case. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to follow this legislation as it unfolds.