Walker Will Keep Residency Rules Change In Budget

Governor Scott Walker says his plan to eliminate residency laws for local government employees will stay in his state budget proposal.

The decision comes in spite of a key legislative agency’s finding: The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau says the governor’s plan to end residency requirements is one of dozens of Walker budget proposals that have nothing to do with state finances. But Walker says he still wants his residency plan in the budget:

“In Milwaukee’s case, the Milwaukee public schools desperately need to have access to more quality teachers. The residency requirements have been a barrier to that in the past. We want to take that barrier down.”

Democrats say Walker’s real aim is to pay back Milwaukee police and firefighters unions that have supported him in elections, and have been pushing to end residency laws. Walker argues state lawmakers strongly support his plan, but some Republican legislators have raised concerns about taking away powers from local government.