2012.09.17

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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 9

Monday, September 17, 2012

www.badgerherald.com

Judge tosses collective bargaining law Colas finds bill violates free speech, freedom of association Polo Rocha State Legislative Editor

Andy Fate The Badger Herald

Jen Small The Badger Herald

Friday’s ruling revived the ever contentious debate over Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining law, which led to a recall election this past summer.

Although the law’s supporters are likely to appeal the decision, a circuit court judge struck down the collective bargaining law passed by Gov. Scott Walker that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most public employees. Dane County Court Judge Juan B. Colas suspended the law on the basis that it violates both the state and federal freedom of speech and freedom of association

guarantees, as well as the equal protection clause. Colas recognized the U.S. Constitution gives no rights to collective bargaining and the law does not prohibit speech or association directly, but still found there are “burdensome restrictions” to those who join a public sector union. “Although the statutes do not prohibit speech or associational activities, the statutes do impose burdens on employees’ exercise of those rights when they do so for the purpose of recognition of their association as an exclusive bargaining agent,” Colas said in his decision. He gave an example of this by saying union members can only negotiate for wage increases that are equal

to or less than the cost of living increases, while other employees are “rewarded” by being able to negotiate raises “without limitation.” According to a statement released Saturday, the Department of Justice will appeal the decision. “We believe that Act 10 is constitutional in all respects and will be appealing this decision,” Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in the statement. “We also will be seeking a stay of Friday’s decision pending appeal in order to allow the law to continue in effect as it has for more than a year while the appellate courts address the legal issues.” Walker released a statement after the ruling and

TOSSES, page 2

Taylor to target homeless youth Madison representative aiming to open homeless shelter only for young people Sarah Eucalano Herald Contributor Wisconsin Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, is addressing the rising number of homeless youth in Madison by pressuring the state to adapt measures that would better provide for those in need. Taylor, who represents the 48th district in the Wisconsin State Assembly, said in a statement Madison does not do enough to provide support for homeless youth. According to the statement, her proposals focus on opening a homeless shelter specifically for young people and extending the length of time children can stay at a shelter from the current 14 days to 28. In the statement, Taylor said

she hopes her proposals will be able to combat and prevent the trauma and difficulty of being a homeless child. Madison Metropolitan School District’s Transition Education Program resource teacher Jani Koester works to support homeless children and teens in schools and said she strongly supports Taylor’s measures. “We live in a caring community but we’re still not taking care of some of our most vulnerable youth,” Koester said. While explaining the importance of ensuring a stable environment for kids, Koester said a Loyola study found it takes between four and six months for a child to

TAYLOR, page 2

A new era? Sophomore quarterback Joel Stave started the entire second half in the Badgers’ 16-14 victory over Utah State Saturday night. Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

The presence of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Republican VP Candidate Paul Ryan in Wisconsin is seen as an indication of the state’s battleground status.

President coming to Milwaukee After both parties’ VP candidates visit state, Obama set to appear at fundraisers Sean Kirkby Senior Reporter For the first time in more than seven months, President Barack Obama will visit Wisconsin Saturday to participate in several campaign functions in Milwaukee, according to a statement. According to the event invitation, Obama will also speak during a reception at the Milwaukee Theatre, with requests for donations between $250 and $5,000 per person.

The Obama Victory Fund is also hosting two fundraisers on the same day. According to an invitation for the event, Obama also will be part of a campaign roundtable discussion at the Milwaukee Theatre. The event is invitation only and the cost per person is $25,000. Tea Party Patriots’ Wisconsin State Coordinator Michael Hintze said the visits show Obama is concerned he is going to lose Wisconsin to Republican

presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Hintze said Obama once thought Wisconsin “was in his pocket” but his visit shows he is concerned about losing the state. Hintze also said Obama should be focusing on trouble in the Middle East rather than coming to the state for fundraisers. “There are some things that are more important than being a politician,” Hintze said. University of Wisconsin political science professor Kenneth Mayer said the

visit, as well as visits from Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, shows the two parties are treating the state as a battleground and neither Obama nor Romney is taking Wisconsin for granted. Mayer said Obama won the state by 15 points in 2008 but recent polls show the race is much closer this time. He said most polls have shown

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Obama recommits to Great Lakes President pledges $300 million for restoration if re-elected in November Meghan Zernick State Politics Editor President Barack Obama would maintain his support for the Great Lakes restoration if he is re-elected in November, a spokesperson said Thursday. Water Resources Specialist at Clean Wisconsin, Ezra Meyer, said Obama pledged if elected in November, he would continue his funding of $300 million per year to the Great Lakes restoration. Meyer said Clean Wisconsin appreciates Obama’s continued support of the Great Lakes. According to Meyer, Obama contributed $415 million in 2010 and

$300 million in the years that followed. Meyer said the funding of the Great Lakes restoration is very important in terms of cleaning up toxic spills and improving the water quality of the lakes. But while Obama’s help is greatly appreciated, the president does not act alone, Meyer said. It’s going to take a long time and billions of dollars to address all of the issues plaguing the Great Lakes, he added. UW Assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Steven Loheide, also in support of the restoration of the Great Lakes, said they contain over 20 percent of

© 2012 BADGER HERALD

the world’s fresh water. Loheide said he has been collaborating on a project with several other professors and graduate students in order to improve stormwater treatment. “Restoring the Great Lakes is, and will continue to be, a major effort which involves a host of U.S. federal agencies and requires close cooperation between the U.S. and Canada,” Loheide said in an email to The Badger Herald. “Some of the urgent issues that are being addressed involve cleaning up toxic pollutants, combating invasive species, improving run-off quality to the lakes by protecting watersheds, restoring

wetlands and other habitats and monitoring our progress.” Tom Eggert, senior lecturer at the Wisconsin School of Business and director of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, said the Great Lakes restoration is important from an economic standpoint as well. “Milwaukee has become the freshwater capitol of the world, partly because of the heightened interest in the importance of fresh water,” Eggert said in an email to The Badger Herald. “Great Lakes restoration funding recognizes how important fresh water is to the

OBAMA, page 2


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