Friday, February 20, 2015
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker backed a surprise move today by Republican legislators to quickly vote on making Wisconsin a right-to-work state, an action the likely 2016 presidential candidate initially said should be delayed to avoid re-igniting massive pro-union protests.
Walker had expressed concerns to leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature that rushing the divisive proposal could distract from his agenda, and in September — during the heat of his re-election campaign — he said he wouldn't support it this session. But after a series of private meetings with lawmakers, followed by an announcement that the bill would be voted on next week, Walker's spokeswoman said he would sign it.
"Governor Walker continues to focus on budget priorities to grow our economy and to streamline state government," his spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said in an email. "With that said, Governor Walker co-sponsored right-to-work legislation as a lawmaker and supports the policy."
Walker walked past reporters, declining to answer questions, at a National Governors Association meeting today in Washington.
Under right to work, unions are prohibited from reaching labor deals with businesses that require private-sector workers to pay fees to the union. Twenty-four other states already have the laws in place.