Catherwood LibraryILR School

For the second day, schools in Wisconsin were closed, as teachers called in sick to go to the capitol and protest a proposed bill. The bill would eliminate most collective bargaining rights, restricting them to wages for almost all public workers. Wage negotiations would be capped at the amount that the Consumer Price Index rises. A legislative committee approved the measure on Wednesday night, and the legislature is expected to vote on the measure today. Governor Scott Walker is hoping for both chambers to pass the bill quickly. While Walker is drawing fire for the bill, including those who question the cost savings effects of curtailing all collective bargaining rights, he says that he is not trying to destroy unions, but balance his budget. Both the President and the Secretary of Education have criticized the bill, whose success is seen as a standard for similar bills in other states.