2-26-15 senate passes right to work

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a fast-tracked right-to-work bill with no Democratic support.  The measure now heads to the state Assembly, which plans to take it up next week. Governor Scott Walker has said he will sign it into law.  The 17-15 vote Wednesday came after nearly eight hours of debate. Democrats argue right-to-work would be bad for workers, wasn’t wanted by businesses and would hurt the state’s economy.  Republican supporters say it will give workers the freedom to decide whether to pay union dues and will attract more business to the state.  All Republicans voted for the measure except Senatior Jerry Petrowski of Marathon. He says he’s not convinced it will be beneficial.  Several people were removed from the galleries for disrupting the debate throughout the day.   The state senate minority leader says outside special interest groups are behind the push to make Wisconsin a right to work state.    Democratic senate leader Jennifer Schilling says out of state special interest groups supporting governor Walker’s presidential aspirations are behind the move.  “Over and over we see the states that have right to work have lower family wages,”  Schilling told AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program.  “I think there are very powerful special interest groups that are outside of this state that are kind of pulling the strings of a potential presidential run for governor Walker.”   Schilling says its disconcerting that Republican lawmakers are moving forward with right to work even though many businesses and contractors in their districts are opposed.

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