Democracy just scored a touchdown.
It's a high judicial standard to convince a judge to issue a temporary restraining order halting a law from taking effect.
But the underhanded, anti-democratic efforts of the Wisconsin Republican Party in ignoring Wisconsin Open Meeting requirements in passing the anti-union bill have managed to become the object of an emergency judicial remedy that is granted only in exceptional circumstances.
The order and opinion should become available online at the Dane County Clerk of Courts webpage. [Go about halfway down the page to: Dane County Circuit Court Case Number 2011CV001175 - Ismael R Ozanne vs. Jeff Fitzgerald et al.]
The Wisconsin State Journal reports:
A Dane County judge Friday issued a temporary order blocking implementation of Gov. Scott Walker's controversial measure limiting collective bargaining for public employees, saying a legislative committee likely violated the state Open Meetings Law when it rushed passage of the bill earlier this month.Patrick Marley, Don Walker and Jason Stein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quote from Judge Sumi's order, reading in part: ""It seems to me the public policy behind effective enforcement of the open meeting law is so strong that it does outweigh the interest, at least at this time, which may exist in favor of sustaining the validity of the (law) ... ."
[T]he ... decision was made soon after hearing arguments from Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Assistant Attorney General Maria Lazar. There was no witness testimony. Sumi also denied a motion by Lazar to stay the restraining order pending an appeal.
Sumi ruled that a March 9 meeting of a joint Assembly-Senate conference committee violated Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law and went on to emphasize the importance of open government in remarks during her ruling.
'This was something that would and did catch the public unaware,' Sumi said, 'what ended up being a closed session of a body in propelling legislation forward.'
Score one for the democratic, open meeting good guy: Wisconsin democracy.
The order and opinion should become available online at the Dane County Clerk of Courts webpage.
This is socializum at it's finest. let's send our man and woman home from overseas that are puting their lives on the line for this country, If this is America it is no longer worth fighting for and while you're at it change our country to The Union States of America. May God have mercy on us!
ReplyDeleteThis is socializum at it's finest! Let's send our men and woman home from overseas who aren't afraid to show up for their jobs. If this is America it is no longer worht fight for. Change it's name to The Union States of America.
ReplyDeleteMay God have mercy on us!
The Conference Committee substitute bill was considered in clear violation of Wisconsin open meeting laws [and the Wisconsin Constitution] that give the public the right to express, petition, object and rise up in support or opposition to proposed legislation. Without an open government, we have no democracy; yet you apparently applaud secrecy in your support of the GOP’s position in this matter. Not sure what you mean by "socializum."
ReplyDelete