Here's Why the Rush

From an OSER FAQ memo:

"What happens to the former collective bargaining agreements if the Budget Repair Bill does not pass prior to the termination of the contract extensions on March 13?


If the Budget Repair Bill has not passed by March 13, the dynamic status quo doctrine applies, which requires the State to continue wage and benefit provisions currently included in the contract."
 
The memo refers to passage of the "Budget Repair Bill" which isn't quite correct because it was written before the Senate pulled the collective bargaining stuff out and passed it as a separate bill.
 
Or maybe it is more accurate to say that they pulled the budget numbers out of the budget repair bill and pased everything else. The assumption in the news is that what they took out makes the amended bill not a budget bill that requires a 20-member quorum. But is the amended bill really not a budget bill? Go to the last few pages - the "nonstatutory provisions" (which are binding). Those provisions still have budgetary actions. For example, they add FTEs and there multiple sections titled "Fiscal changes".

Here's a link to the amended bill:
 
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/JR1AB11-CA1.pdf
 
Here's a link to the legislative history:
 
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/jr1AB11hst.html
 
The bill is still titled: "AN ACT relating to: state finances, collective bargaining for public employees, compensation and fringe benefits of public employees, the state civil service system, the Medical Assistance program."

(And no, I'm not at work right now. I don't start until 9 AM this morning.)