Friday, September 14, 2012

Color me not surpised.

Act 10, the Governor's controversial law that stripped most public employees of collective bargaining rights, was struck down by a Wisconsin Circuit Court today on equal protection grounds. I'm not surprised.  Regardless of the merits of the legislation, it was obvious that it was hurriedly pushed through the legislature without the substantive deliberation such a major piece of legislation requires.  And that is a recipe for legal limbo.

Of course the final disposition (vs. State Law at least)  is up to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, so this ruling is likely  not the final word.  But what additional wrenches are going to be thrown into the gears of Wisconsin Schools before the dust finally settles on this?  We have already had to deal with quite a number due to this poorly designed law.

My biggest complaint with Act 10 has always been in implementation:  Any changes should have been phased in,  both to allow districts and teachers time to adapt and react deliberately, without creating large measures of uncertainty and stress, and to allow time for the law to be tested in the courts so we don't end up being jerked back and forth as we have.  But it wasn't.  IMHO the rush was to achieve a political end: reducing the lobbying power of the teacher's unions.  Regardless of what you think of the goals of Act 10, its sloppy content and roughshod implementation clearly reflect poor governance.

No comments: