MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he's proposing that the state strip nearly all public employee collective bargaining rights to help plug a $3.6 billion budget hole.
The Republican told The Associated Press on Thursday that no one should be surprised because he's been talking about such a move for two months.
Walker says the changes are necessary to avoid up to 6,000 state employee layoffs and the removal of more than 200,000 children from Medicaid.
The governor says he'll call a special session of the Legislature on Friday and ask them to pass his plan next week.
Democrats almost certainly will unite against the proposal but are powerless to stop it. Republicans control the Assembly 60-38-1 and the Senate 19-14.
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