More Republican power-politics and bullying in Wisconsin. Normally, when a bill passes, it’s published by the “nonpartisan” Legislative Reference Bureau and then implemented as law. In the case of the radical Republican union-stripping law, however, a court has stayed implementation and publication.

But that violates Republican Law RL-1: When you have the power, use it.

In this case, as the following AP story makes clear, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald got that “nonpartisan” Reference Bureau to publish it anyway, and now claims it’s law, despite the court order.

Here’s part of the story (via Politico; my emphasis):

The saga surrounding Gov. Scott Walker’s push to strip most public employees of nearly all of their collective bargaining rights took another unexpected, and confusing, turn Friday when the Legislative Reference Bureau posted the law online, despite a court order blocking its publication while challenges to the law are considered. That order specifically bars Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law, which is the last step before a law takes effect. This is typically done by the Reference Bureau within 10 working days after it’s signed by the governor, on a date set by the secretary of state. … [A]fter the restraining order was issued, La Follette notified the Reference Bureau that he was rescinding that publication date. … But Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who said he went to the Reference Bureau with the idea, wasted no time in saying that the law’s online publication meant it would take effect Saturday.

When you have the power, use it. Odd that the “nonpartisan” guy who must have published the law at Fitzgerald’s request, disagrees that this means it’s law.

Steve Miller, the Reference Bureau’s director, disagreed, insisting that posting the law online was simply a procedural step and that the law wouldn’t take effect until La Follette orders it published in a newspaper. “It’s not implementation at all,” Miller said. “It’s simply a matter of forwarding an official copy to the secretary of state.”

If he disagrees, why did he publish it despite the court order? Maybe nonpartisan doesn’t mean what I think it means. Ah, Republicans; I forget, they always play to win. Maybe we should try that.

By the way, what is it with names in Republi-consin land? Scott Fitzgerald? Randy Hopper? Randy’s the guy whose wife told a Fond du Lac news crew he’s shacked up with a cute little (slightly overpaid) Twenty-Something in Madison. Randy Hopper — nice.

If there’s a group writing stage names for these guys, I want in on it.

GP