Assessing the impact of Act 10 on Wisconsin, 5 years later
Five years ago today, Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced legislation that would effectively end collective bargaining for public employees and unmoor Wisconsin from its progressive roots.
In his own words, it was the day he "dropped the bomb."
(8) updates to this series since Updated
Wisconsin's political fault lines existed long before Act 10, but the law that hobbled public sector unions and launched Gov. Scott Walker as a national conservative star may be most remembered years from now for bringing those fissures into high relief.
Public school teachers were the face of the opposition to Gov. Scott Walker's Act 10 -- and they could end up absorbing some of the longest lasting changes resulting from the controversial law.
In the five years since Act 10 was signed by Gov. Scott Walker, union membership in Wisconsin has plummeted.
Wisconsin's economic growth has continued to lag its neighbors and the nation in the five years since the passage of Act 10. But property taxes have flat-lined and unemployment is at its lowest level in 15 years.
Wisconsin's cities, towns and counties have reaped savings in the five years since Act 10 became law. But a leading public-worker union official says it also is causing a slow erosion in the quality of the state's municipal workforce -- and the services they provide.
A collection of Wisconsin State Journal front pages during the historic Capitol protests of February and March 2011. Gov. Scott Walker's plan …
Wisconsin State Journal photographers picked their favorite photos from the historic protests of February and March 2011.
A look back at key moments in the 2011 protests of Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining controversy.
Teacher unions seeking to retain their status are doing slightly better with participation than last year, with 66% of members having cast votes, up from 63% last year.
A decade after the controversial legislation became law, state and local governments have saved billions of dollars, but spending on key programs has lagged.
