Wisconsin Lawmakers Pass Anti-Union Bill as Police Remove Protesters

FoxNews.com

Published March 10, 2011

AP – Police try to secure a door during a protest at the Wisconsin state Capitol March 10 in Madison.

In a decisive blow to union power, Wisconsin lawmakers voted Thursday to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from the state’s public workers.

The state’s Assembly passed Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s explosive proposal 53-42 Thursday. The state’s Senate approved it the night before after using a procedural move to bypass its AWOL Democrats.

Walker says he’ll sign the legislation as quickly as possible.

“I applaud all members of the Assembly for showing up, debating the legislation and participating in democracy,” Walker said in a statement. “Their action will save jobs, protect taxpayers, reform government and help balance the budget.”