Politics & Government

Knodl, Pridemore Defend GOP Actions on Controversial Bill

Two area lawmakers say Republicans did nothing illegal and that most Wisconsinites support measure that eliminates bargaining rights.

Two area Republican lawmakers Thursday rejected claims from Democrats and others that GOP senators acted illegally when they hastily passed a controversial bill that strips bargaining rights from most public employees.

In interviews just before the Assembly convened to take up the bill, the lawmakers said there was nothing illegal about the actions taken late Wednesday, even though Democrats complained that a committee that approved the measure before it went to the Senate violated the state’s open meetings laws.

“Everything was legal,” state Rep. Donald Pridemore, who represents Sussex and part of Menomonee Falls. “No precedents were set. This has happened in the past.”

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“That’s nonsense,” state Rep. Dan Knodl said of the Democrats' complaints. “The Senate was in a special session (and) there are rules specific to that. They operated within those rules. The Democrats have not identified a specific state law or statute that was broken. So it’s really just a lot of hot air on their part in that regard.”

If Democrats decide to sue over the issue, the two lawmakers said such a suit would likely get tossed out of court.

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“My only concern I have is the waste of time and money the taxpayers will have to spend in order to defend any lawsuit the Democrats may make,” Pridemore said.

Knodl, whose district includes Menomonee Falls, said the situation could have been avoided had the 14 Senate Democrats not fled the state to avoid taking up Gov. Scottt Walker’s budget repair bill.

“The Democrats decided, elected or were told by their union bosses that are steering them … to not come home,” he said. “This was the next step in the procedure not to act with them.”

Both lawmakers also defended the bill, which would eliminate many collective bargaining rights for most public employees and also require them to pay more toward their pensions and health care benefits.

“All we are really doing is asking public employees to take between a 5 to 10 percent cut, and they have been totally unreasonable in accepting this minor adjustment in their salaries for the benefit of the state, school district and economy,” Pridemore said.

Knodl added public employees could actually see more take-home pay because they would no longer be required to pay union dues.

And despite the thousands of protesters at the Capitol on Wednesday and Thursday, the two lawmakers said they believe most Wisconsinites believe Republicans are doing the right thing.

“I’ve been answering my phone since 5 a.m. and calls are running 2-to-1 in favor of this bill,” Pridemore said.

“This state is not as divided as it seems,” added Knodl. “The protesters are here, they’re vocal and they are making their voices known.”

But, he said, the vast majority are still in support of the bill.

“We need to let people know what the effect of this bill will be, and that’s to help the local municipalities and school districts work their budgets and get their house in order,” Knodl said.


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