The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that the Republicans that control the legislature have instructed their Legislative Reference Bureau to bypass the Sec. of State's Office, DEFY A COURT ORDER and publish the collective bargaining bill:



A controversial bill limiting collective bargaining for public workers has been officially published despite a temporary restraining order barring its publication. The legislation was published Friday with a footnote that notes the restraining order, but says the law "requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to publish every act within 10 working days after its date of enactment." The publication of the law means that it will take effect Saturday. The restraining order was issued against Secretary of State Doug La Follette, not the reference bureau. La Follette is a Democrat and the Legislature is run by Republicans, but the reference bureau is a nonpartisan agency widely respected by both sides. La Follettte and aides to Gov. Scott Walker and legislative leaders could not be immediately released.



This came shortly after the Madison streets department and firefighters just filed the first lawsuit by any union in response to Gov. Scott Walker's bill that kills collectively bargaining rights of Wisconsin's public sector workers.

The lawsuit challenges the manner in which the vote was taken on the bill –that the bill contained fiscal elements, necessitating a 20 member quorum and that only 19 members were present when the vote was taken.

As this is the complaint phase, arguments as to why the bill contains fiscal elements and is therefore unconstitutional, have not yet been provided.

My understanding is that the plaintiffs in this suit are prepared to also bring

constitutional challenges to the substance of the law when (or if) it is ever

enacted.

The suit was filed on behalf on the unions by attorneys Bruce Ehlke, Katy Lounsbury and Colleen Bero-Lehman of the law firm Ehlke, Bero-Lehman and Lounsbury. I hear that the attorneys were kind enough to personally deliver the lawsuit to Gov. Walker's office. (Disclosure: Katy Lounsbury is my lovely wife.)