Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, has been shouting at a rally in Madison, Wisc., in “solidarity” with public employee workers who have been disrupting the state this week. The situation’s not funny, but Trumka’s hyperbole is hilarious. From the AFL-CIO’s Tweet coverage:

Gov. Walker, that’s too much to ask. You can’t have our freedom!” -Trumka #NotMyWI #WIunion #StateSOS #1u

According to Gov. Scott Walker’s office, the governor is asking the following of public employees:

Governor Walker’s budget repair bill strikes a fair balance—asking public employees to make a modest 5.8% pension contribution, which is about the national average, and 12.6% health insurance contribution, which is about half the national average.

Legislation proposed by Gov. Walker would limit public employee collective bargaining to salary issues alone, but it does not prevent anyone from joining a union. In any case, these are terms that are subject to review and change, and given the state’s $3.6 billion budget hole, voters last November elected candidates who promised this kind of change.

We pay attention to Trumka as a leader of unions representing private-sector employees, and judging from his involvement in the Wisconsin activities, employers should anticipate protests, disruption and worse if they ever get crosswise with Big Labor. Here’s some of what he’s endorsing: (continue reading…)

The Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday passed SBJR1, Gov. Scott Walker’s tort reform package, by a vote of 19-14. Republicans voted for the bill, Democrats against it.

In a news release, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) cited major provisions of importance to manufacturers:

• Manufacturer protection: forcing lawsuits for legal damages to prove that the defendant actually manufactured the product that caused the damage;
• Punitive damage reform: Sets a cap on punitive, noneconomic damages, which are currently unlimited. Recovering for actual economic damages is still allowed and uncapped;
• Frivolous lawsuit reform: punish and ultimately prevent lawsuits with malicious intent or the sole intent of harassing a defendant.

This bill sets specific standards for improving the state’s tort climate, giving business greater confidence that they can thrive in Wisconsin instead of worrying about frivolous lawsuits and trial attorneys chasing the deepest pockets.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce issued a news release before the vote, urging passage. More from WisPolitics.com.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the NAM’s partner in the Badger State, has come out in strong support of a package of civil justice reform measures proposed by new Gov. Scott Walker and legislative Republicans. Introduced on Jan. 6 in Assembly, the bill is Assembly Bill 1 . The Assembly’s Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the bill at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 11.

The bill proposes the following, the WMC reports:

• Adoption of various changes to product liability law to bring Wisconsin in line with other states and assist Wisconsin manufacturers and small businesses.
• Requiring expert witnesses to base their opinions on sound science and well-established theories.
• Elimination of the “risk contribution” theory in manufacturing lawsuits. The Wisconsin Supreme Court created the standard allowing plaintiffs to sue any lead paint manufacturer that sold paint in the state without proving which product caused the harm.
• Heightened standards for the award of punitive damages.

In a release, James A. Buchen, WMC vice president of government relations, said: “These are common sense reforms that will ensure our legal system is fair and predictable so that employers can be confident that they won’t be sued out of business. These reforms will improve our business climate and will help encourage job creation while protecting victims.”

The Wisconsin Bar Association, which opposes many of the provisions, still did a good job summarizing the bill in a report, “Republicans introduce omnibus tort reform bill, public hearing scheduled for Tuesday.” More …

• Associated Press, “Walker’s tort reform proposal wins praise from businesses, criticism from trial lawyers”
• Bloomberg, “Wis. gov tort reform proposal draws mixed response”
• Milwaukee Public Radio, “Supporters, Critics Sound Off About Tort Reform Proposal”
• WISC Madison, “Walker Wants Lawmakers To Take Up Bills”