The imminent layoffs are a direct result of the delay in the passage of the Budget Repair Bill, which has been in limbo since 14 Democratic state Senators fled to Illinois, in an effort to deny the measure the quorum it needs to pass. The disputed measure would discard most of the collective bargaining rights for the majority of Wisconsin's 300,000 public employees. The bill calls for state, local, and school employees to pay half the costs of their pensions and 12.6% of their healthcare costs. Additionally, non-law enforcement unions would be obligated to hold yearly elections to remain certified.
According to Walker, the terms of the Budget Repair Bill are the necessary response to the state's budget shortfall of $3.6 billion. Walker states that the cuts introduced in the measure will save nearly $300 million over the next two fiscal years. However, unions say that public employees will be hit with about an eight percent decrease in take-home pay. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have flooded the state capital in protest of the measure since February 15 but Walker has made it clear that he is not interested in reaching a compromise on the collective bargaining issue. According to a spokesperson for Walker, his main focus is the deficit and he will remain unbending on any issue that saves the state money.
