By Scott Bauer
Associated Press
MADISON - The Legislature's timing on taking up the fast-tracked right-to-work bill this week was "just right," Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday, adding that he believes the public has been given plenty of opportunities to express themselves on the fast-tracked proposal.
The Senate passed the bill Wednesday and it is coming up for an Assembly vote next week even though Republican leaders said in the heat of the 2014 campaign that the issue would not be addressed. Walker had also said in September while facing re-election that he was not pushing for right-to-work and would not support it this legislative session.
Following a Thursday speech before a meeting of manufacturing executives in Milwaukee, Walker addressed questions about previously saying right-to-work would be a distraction from his agenda, calling it an appropriate moment because the debate falls between when he introduced his budget and before lawmakers will debate the spending plan.
"Timing-wise it doesn't create a separate issue that detracts from the other work we have to do," Walker told reporters. "The timing was just right."
He also touted the value of right-to-work laws, which forbid unions from striking deals with businesses where union dues are required to be paid by workers. The likely 2016 presidential candidate could end up signing the bill just two weeks after the bill was introduced.
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke was direct during the fall campaign, saying in September that, "right-to work is off the table I believe for the next session." On Thursday, Steineke said that the Senate's quickness is forcing the Assembly to act, but that the majority of Republicans support it and will vote for it.
"Now that it's coming up we're going to have to deal with it," he said.
Walker sponsored a right-to-work bill as a state lawmaker in 1993, but since he curtailed public union power in 2011, he had downplayed his desire to implement right-to-work for the private sector. But last week, the governor who has staked his political profile on his confrontation with public unions cited his longtime support and said he'd sign the bill.
Walker is a hypocrite, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said.
"For him now to state that this is an appropriate time just shows the level of deceit," the Kenosha Democrat said at a news conference where he held up a newspaper clip about Walker from September.
Walker believes Wisconsin will be more competitive with neighboring states Michigan and Indiana that also have similar laws. Opponents say there's no evidence such laws help economies and they will, in fact, lead to lower wages for workers and diminish union power.
"Those that provide real value to their members will continue to be strong. ... If not, then they'll have a similar fate we've seen over the past four years with public unions," Walker said, referring to the large drop in public-sector union membership since the 2011 law took away nearly all of their collective bargaining powers.
The right-to-work bill does not infringe on collective bargaining rights.
Associated Press
MADISON - The Legislature's timing on taking up the fast-tracked right-to-work bill this week was "just right," Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday, adding that he believes the public has been given plenty of opportunities to express themselves on the fast-tracked proposal.
The Senate passed the bill Wednesday and it is coming up for an Assembly vote next week even though Republican leaders said in the heat of the 2014 campaign that the issue would not be addressed. Walker had also said in September while facing re-election that he was not pushing for right-to-work and would not support it this legislative session.
Following a Thursday speech before a meeting of manufacturing executives in Milwaukee, Walker addressed questions about previously saying right-to-work would be a distraction from his agenda, calling it an appropriate moment because the debate falls between when he introduced his budget and before lawmakers will debate the spending plan.
"Timing-wise it doesn't create a separate issue that detracts from the other work we have to do," Walker told reporters. "The timing was just right."
He also touted the value of right-to-work laws, which forbid unions from striking deals with businesses where union dues are required to be paid by workers. The likely 2016 presidential candidate could end up signing the bill just two weeks after the bill was introduced.
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke was direct during the fall campaign, saying in September that, "right-to work is off the table I believe for the next session." On Thursday, Steineke said that the Senate's quickness is forcing the Assembly to act, but that the majority of Republicans support it and will vote for it.
"Now that it's coming up we're going to have to deal with it," he said.
Walker sponsored a right-to-work bill as a state lawmaker in 1993, but since he curtailed public union power in 2011, he had downplayed his desire to implement right-to-work for the private sector. But last week, the governor who has staked his political profile on his confrontation with public unions cited his longtime support and said he'd sign the bill.
Walker is a hypocrite, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said.
"For him now to state that this is an appropriate time just shows the level of deceit," the Kenosha Democrat said at a news conference where he held up a newspaper clip about Walker from September.
Walker believes Wisconsin will be more competitive with neighboring states Michigan and Indiana that also have similar laws. Opponents say there's no evidence such laws help economies and they will, in fact, lead to lower wages for workers and diminish union power.
"Those that provide real value to their members will continue to be strong. ... If not, then they'll have a similar fate we've seen over the past four years with public unions," Walker said, referring to the large drop in public-sector union membership since the 2011 law took away nearly all of their collective bargaining powers.
The right-to-work bill does not infringe on collective bargaining rights.