Gov. Walker signs right-to-work bill
3/9/15 3:28 PM
BROWN DEER, Wis. (WFRV) - In front of a group of Republican lawmakers at Badger Meter, north of Milwaukee, Governor Scott Walker signed the controversial right-to-work bill on Monday morning.
"This is one more tool that will help grow good paying, family supporting jobs here in the state of Wisconsin," Gov. Walker told the crowd.
Right-to-work laws ban unions from forcing workers to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. The governor said this paves the way for job expansion and creation across the state.
"They look at all the other incentives we have in terms of a strong infrastructure when it comes to transportation, when it comes to cost-effective reliable sources of power," he explained. "Now they look at one more tool, one more arrow in that quip because Wisconsin now has the freedom to work."
Despite protests at the capitol over the bill, local legislators said there is plenty of support for right-to-work.
"I think we had time to hear from anybody that wanted to come and speak to us," said Rep. Andre Jacque, a De Pere republican. "We were proactively reaching out to individuals as well and had a lot of great discussions of it and, really, I think cleared up a lot of misunderstandings in the public."
Gov. Walker called the passage of this bill a true team effort led by members of the Assembly and Senate.
"I'm proud of the team we have in Wisconsin," he added. "We're going to continue to fight and win for the hardworking taxpayers."
The governor said he chose to sign the legislation at Badger Meter because the company is planning to expand its Wisconsin facility due to the new right-to-work law.