Walker Says He’s Fine With How Quickly Right To Work Is Moving Through Legislature

'This Is Longer Than Most Bills Have Out There,' Says Governor

By
Wisconsin National Guard (CC-BY-NC-ND)

Gov. Scott Walker dismissed criticism on Thursday that a right-to-work bill is moving too quickly through the state Legislature.

Labor groups are upset that a Senate committee ended testimony on the measure earlier this week at the state Capitol, while many people were waiting to speak. Unions also say the two chambers of the Legislature should be taking more time to consider the bill.

Walker, however, said the pace is just fine. He noted that Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald first floated the idea of taking up right to work at the end of last year.

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“We’ve had as lengthy a debate as I can think of. Most of the long debates I had when I was in the Legislature lasted for a few hours on the floor of the Assembly. So this is longer than most bills have out there,” said Walker.

Last month, Fitzgerald said his chamber wouldn’t take up the right-to-work bill until April. However, the Senate passed the measure on Wednesday and the Assembly is planning to approve the bill next week.