Court Lets Wisconsin Union Law Take Effect

The Wisconsin Supreme Court handed Republican Gov. Scott Walker a major victory today, ruling that his polarizing union rights law can go into effect. In a 4-3 decision, the court said Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi overstepped her authority when she said Republican lawmakers violated the state's opening meetings statutes in the run-up to passage and declared the union rights law void.

The law, which eliminates most of public employees' collective bargaining rights and requires them to pay more for their health care and pensions, sparked weeks of protests when Walker introduced it in February. Walker claimed the law was needed to help address the state's $3.6 billion budget shortfall. Democrats saw it as an attack on public employee unions. (Click to about the "fake Democrats" who will be running in this summer's recall elections.)