Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

[Riot]

See, Governor Walker, this is why you do not try and secretly rush through legislation that changes things markedly (eliminate collective bargaining rights) without some time, a deep breath and public debate:


Sam Stein reports that Walker bill, if passed, will lose Wisconsin $46 million of the $74 million it gets in federal transportation funding

WASHINGTON -- Budget referees and transportation officials in Wisconsin have informed Gov. Scott Walker (R) that if he were to pass his controversial anti-union legislation into law, he could be forfeiting tens of millions of dollars in federal funds for transportation.

Under an obscure provision of federal labor law, states risk losing federal funds should they eliminate "collective bargaining rights" that existed at the time when federal assistance was first granted. The provision, known as "protective arrangements" or "Section 13C arrangements," is meant as a means of cushioning union (and even some non-union) members who, while working on local projects, are affected by federal grants.

It also could potentially hamstring governors like Walker who want dramatic changes to labor laws in their states. Wisconsin received $74 million in federal transit funds this fiscal year. Of that, $46.6 million would be put at risk should the collective-bargaining bill come to pass -- in the process creating an even more difficult fiscal situation than the one that, ostensibly, compelled Walker to push the legislation in the first place.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_826908.html

Some Dems have an emergency amendment to exclude Transportation union members from Walkers union-busting bill ready, in an attempt to save this money for the state. Walker's office has not yet commented, so it's unknown if Walker knew about this or not (is the federal fund loss deliberate or just a mistake of ignorance?)