Wis. Prosecutor Files Lawsuit Against GOP

As Scott Walker defends plan to cut $900M from schools
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 17, 2011 10:34 AM CDT
Wisconsin Prosecutor Ismael Ozanne Filed Lawsuit Against GOP
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks about the budget bill at a signing ceremony Friday, March 11, 2011, in Madison, Wis.   (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

A Madison district attorney has filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin’s Republican lawmakers, saying they violated the state’s open meetings law in their backdoor maneuver to pass a bill stripping public unions of most of their collective bargaining rights. The prosecutor, Democrat Ismael Ozanne, wants a judge to issue an emergency injunction blocking the law, and to fine each Republican leader $300, the AP reports.

Scott Walker, meanwhile, spent yesterday meeting with school superintendents, hoping to drum up support for his plan to cut nearly $900 million in aid to schools, while simultaneously reducing their property tax revenue. Walker argues that schools can make up the difference by paying less for teachers’ benefits, but Democrats and teachers disagree. “You simply cannot cut three-quarters of a billion dollars out of our education system and deliver on the basic promise to provide a quality education,” said the president of the teachers’ union. (More Wisconsin stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X