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Republicans violated open meetings law, Dane County D.A. says in civil complaint.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 16, 2011
Madison - On Wednesday in a press release, Dane County Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne announced that his office filed a lawsuit claiming that Republicans violated an open meetings law on March 9, when a legislative conference committee modified Governor Walker's budget repair bill that eliminated most bargaining rights for most workers. Ozanne is seeking an injunction to keep the secretatry of state from publishing the law after March 25, and for the law to be voided.
Ozanne named Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R), Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R), Senate President Michael Ellis (R), Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder (R) and Douglas La Follette (D), Secretary of State as defendants and filed the complaint in the Dane County Circuit Court charging violations of the open meetings law in an effort to vindicate the interests of the public in ensuring governmental bodies at all levels adhere to all of the requirements of the open meetings law.
Ozanne stated, “Once this office received a verified complaint, which is needed by statute to give us jurisdiction, we began an investigation. Our investigation has found merit in the verified complaints, which allows us to commence this litigation. This litigation does not address the merits or the wisdom of the legislation.”
A lawyer representing unions had also filed a lawsuit alleging the Republicans had violated open meetings law, by not given enough public notice to make changes on the budget repair bill, which Republicans separated a provision ending collective bargaining. A court hearing for the unions claim is scheduled for Friday.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said, the process was done legally, since the conference meeting drew questions how it was called. The issue will be decided, if legislators violated the open meetings law when both the Senate and Assemly members met in a legislative conference and decided to modify Walker's budget repair bill without following the required time for public notice and notification to legislators.
Last Friday, the union busting law was signed into law by Governor Scott Walker (R).
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Republicans violated open meetings law, Dane County D.A. says in civil complaint.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 16, 2011
Madison - On Wednesday in a press release, Dane County Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne announced that his office filed a lawsuit claiming that Republicans violated an open meetings law on March 9, when a legislative conference committee modified Governor Walker's budget repair bill that eliminated most bargaining rights for most workers. Ozanne is seeking an injunction to keep the secretatry of state from publishing the law after March 25, and for the law to be voided.
Ozanne named Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R), Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R), Senate President Michael Ellis (R), Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder (R) and Douglas La Follette (D), Secretary of State as defendants and filed the complaint in the Dane County Circuit Court charging violations of the open meetings law in an effort to vindicate the interests of the public in ensuring governmental bodies at all levels adhere to all of the requirements of the open meetings law.
Ozanne stated, “Once this office received a verified complaint, which is needed by statute to give us jurisdiction, we began an investigation. Our investigation has found merit in the verified complaints, which allows us to commence this litigation. This litigation does not address the merits or the wisdom of the legislation.”
A lawyer representing unions had also filed a lawsuit alleging the Republicans had violated open meetings law, by not given enough public notice to make changes on the budget repair bill, which Republicans separated a provision ending collective bargaining. A court hearing for the unions claim is scheduled for Friday.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said, the process was done legally, since the conference meeting drew questions how it was called. The issue will be decided, if legislators violated the open meetings law when both the Senate and Assemly members met in a legislative conference and decided to modify Walker's budget repair bill without following the required time for public notice and notification to legislators.
Last Friday, the union busting law was signed into law by Governor Scott Walker (R).
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
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