Thank You Letter to Leftists, from Wisconsin Taxpayer

This letter is great.

The writer, a Wisconsin taxpayer, states why Governor Scott Walker won the recall election by such a large margin.

The Leftists chose their fate.

Their collective hissy fit was defining. They literally are responsible for organizing the Walker coalition.

Talk about unintended consequences!

To all leftists, occupiers, unionistas and malcontents,

Thank you! What an election! We couldn't have done it without you. Without your tantrums, outbursts and boorish behavior we might have stayed home for this election. Without your filthy, pot smoking hemp-headed minions occupying and violating the Capitol we might have been complacent. Without your obnoxious protests, boycotts and other actions from your union playbook, we might have sat this one out.

But you couldn't hold back. You couldn't restrain yourselves and behave like adults. You couldn't accept the 2010 election results. We sat and watched as you erupted in a juvenile hissy fit that embarrassed Wisconsin . The spectacle you created is what motivated us. And thanks to your ill-mannered behavior, we won. We turned out. Big time! And now we are organized and energized. Committed. "All in". And we aren't going away. We now have our own organizations (no dues required), an army of volunteers and the means to communicate. And countless new sources of funding, including a donor base from all 50 states. And we have "Verify The Recall" to ferret out your infiltrators in our future local elections.

So thank you Mike Tate, Graeme Zielinski , Fred " Loonie " Levenhagen , Ismael Ozanne , Maryanne Sumi , Noble Ray, Charles Tubbs , Joanne Kloppenberg , Segway Boy, John Chisolm , public employee union members, UW TA's , WEAC , SEIU , MTI , AFSCME Council 24 in Union Grove and WI prison guards,. Thanks for the death threats, the intimidation, the bullying, belligerence, thuggery and goonish behavior. The lack of ethics and the failure to enforce rules and laws. Thank you for putting your selfish, greedy motives on display for all taxpayers to see.

Your antics might have made you feel good but they didn't make you look good. They sickened the rest of us.

Thank you Shirley Abrahamson and Ann Walsh Bradley. Your petty politics woke us up. Thank you Miles Kristan for dumping the beer on Robin Vos's head. Thank you University doctors for writing the phony excuses; Madison teachers for calling in sick or dragging your students to the protests without permission. Thank you Katherine Windels for making death threats against the Governor. The noontime capitol singers who taunted Sheboygan high school students. Thank you WEA Trust for raping Wisconsin taxpayers. Thank you Gwen Moore for your embarrassing minstrel show. And thanks all of you for harassing the Walker family at their private home.

You have all been exposed. Your tactics have been rejected. Your bad behavior has been forever captured on You Tube.

Thank you Peter Barca and fellow Assembly members for donning your foolish orange T-shirts and screaming "shame" at legislators just doing their jobs.

Thank you Mark Miller and all 14 senators for fleeing the state and making fools of yourselves in the process. Illinois needed a few more village idiots. Thanks for showing us what democracy doesn't look like.

And Mayor Barrett. How grateful we are that you chose one low road after another in your issue-less campaign against the Governor. This was your strike three. You are out. Take a seat on the bench and stay there. I have a hunch this was your final at-bat.

All of you helped turn Wisconsin permanently red. Your Governor, Scott Walker, will not just complete his first term, he is all but assured as many future terms as he seeks. He will be your governor for a long, long time. Get used to it. And his national "rock star" status just might lead him to be your President some day. Just think, it couldn't have happened without you! So to all of you blue fisters , thank you from the bottom of my happy, red heart.

Sincerely,

A Wisconsin taxpayer

Nice work, Leftists. Very nice work.

I thank you.

Collective Bargaining Law Takes Effect

It's been a long painful process and taken a long time but Governor Scott Walker and Republican legislators can finally say "mission accomplished."

The budget repair bill takes effect today.

From the Associated Press:

After months of heated debate, ear-splitting protests and legal maneuvering, Gov. Scott Walker's divisive collective bargaining law is finally set to take effect.

Secretary of State Doug LaFollette published the law in the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper on Tuesday. The measure goes into effect Wednesday, capping an ugly four months in Madison that saw state senators flee the state and massive protests at the state Capitol.

The 14 Democrat senators who fled the state to avoid voting on the bill couldn't stop it.

Thousands of protesters couldn't stop it.

LaFollette couldn't stop it.

Judge Maryann Sumi couldn't stop it.

The law takes effect today.

Everything seems to be OK.

Apocalypse not now.

Sumi Ruling Overturned

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned Judge Maryann Sumi's ruling blocking the Budget Repair Bill.

Read the ruling here.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Acting with unusual speed, the state Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated Gov. Scott Walker's plan to all but end collective bargaining for tens of thousands of public workers.

The court found a committee of lawmakers was not subject to the state's open meetings law, and so did not violate that law when they hastily approved the measure and made it possible for the Senate to take it up. In doing so, the Supreme Court overruled a Dane County judge who had struck down the legislation, ending one challenge to the law even as new challenges are likely to emerge.

The majority opinion was by Justices Michael Gableman, David Prosser, Patience Roggensack and Annette Ziegler. The other three justices -Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and N. Patrick Crooks - concurred in part and dissented in part.

From Reuters:

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday said a controversial measure that curbs the collective bargaining rights of public workers can go into effect.

The high court overturned a lower court, which had ruled Republican lawmakers violated the state's open meetings law when they passed the measure.

Well.

That's done.

Maryann Sumi Strikes Down Law

UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Maryann Sumi's ruling is overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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I knew Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi was going to strike down the budget repair law. It was inevitable.

I'm sure her husband, the very anti-Scott Walker, pro-union, Democrat Carl Sinderbrand, and her very anti-Scott Walker, pro-union, Democrat son, Jake Sinderbrand, are happy.

What really bugs me is that Sumi took weeks, MONTHS, to make her decision.

I suppose once it became clear that JoAnne "I'm Ecstatic" Kloppenburg couldn't find a way to disenfranchise thousands and thousands of Wisconsin voters and that bit of recount chaos was no longer sucking the air out of the room, Sumi saw no point in dragging her feet any longer, particularly with the June 6, State Supreme Court date looming.

Besides, the Leftists needed something to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend, however temporary.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A Dane County judge has struck down Gov. Scott Walker's legislation repealing most collective bargaining for public employees.

In a 33-page decision issued Thursday, Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi said she would freeze the legislation because GOP lawmakers on a committee broke the state's open meetings law in passing it March 9. The legislation limits collective bargaining to wages for all public employees in Wisconsin except for police and firefighters.

"It's what we were looking for," said Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat.

"It's what we were looking for."

No kidding.

Was there really ever any doubt it was what the Democrats would get?

Of course not.

...Steve Means, the number three official at the state Department of Justice, said the agency and GOP Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen have been surprised at Sumi's handling of the case and asked whether she would recuse herself from it.

"Obviously we're disappointed in the ruling. We do think it reflects a number of legal errors, but it's for the appellate courts at this point," Means said.

Means said Sumi had made her decision without holding a trial or making clear beforehand that no trial would be held.

...Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) responded in a statement. "There's still a much larger separation-of-powers issue: whether one Madison judge can stand in the way of the other two democratically elected branches of government. The Supreme Court is going to have the ultimate ruling, and they're still scheduled to hear the issue on June 6. This overdue reform is still a critical part of balancing Wisconsin's budget."

Ozanne agreed that the court case is still far from settled.

"It's not over yet. I'm positive of that," Ozanne said. "The supremes are the supremes. They can do what they want."

GOP lawmakers like Fitzgerald also have said they would consider passing the law a second time as part of the 2011-'13 state budget if it was necessary to ensure that it takes effect.

"Act 10 was passed and signed into law in accordance with the rules of the state Legislature," said Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), Scott Fitzgerald's brother. "I remain confident that the Wisconsin State Supreme Court will rule accordingly and Act 10 will become law."

Here's video and more information, from the MacIver Institute:

The judge who had been blocking implementation of Wisconsin’s public employee collective bargaining reforms has now struck down the law altogether, saying legislative Republicans failed to give proper notice before acting on the bill in committee.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued her ruling Thursday, writing that the law is voided because lawmakers failed to provide proper public notice of a Conference Committee meeting wherein the bill was amended.

“The court must consider the potential damage to public trust and confidence in government if the Legislature is not held to the same rules of transparency that it has created for other governmental bodies,” Sumi wrote.

Republicans argued that the Legislature, when in Special Session, is not bound by the law requiring a broad public notice.

“This was not the case in which proper notice was missed by a few minutes or an hour,” Sumi wrote.

However, GOP lawmakers asserted they did provide the minimum two hour notice justified by the the ‘good cause’ provision of the statutes, even though that was also unnecessary. Sumi disagreed.

“Act 10 was passed and signed into law in accordance with the rules of the state legislature,” said Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. “I remain confident that the Wisconsin State Supreme Court will rule accordingly and Act 10 will become law.”

Republicans are expected to immediately appeal the decision. Since an appeal would likely take time to be heard, they may also move to pass identical provisions as a part of the biennial budget next month.

Read Sumi's ruling.

The Supreme Court takes up the matter on June 6.

Hopefully, it will eventually put an end to this obstruction.

Brett Healy and John Batchelor

Wisconsin continues to receive the national spotlight.

Brett Healy of the MacIver Institute was a guest on The John Batchelor Show Monday night.

Healy discusses Judge Maryann Sumi and the open-records case before her, as well as developments on the recall elections in Wisconsin. He also talks about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Justice David Prosser's victory, and Scott Walker's future.

Listen to the podcast or download the show here, Monday, 4/18/11 - Batchelor 9pm (Wisconsin topic begins at 18:30).

Maryann Sumi, March 31 - Budget Repair Law Not in Effect

UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Maryann Sumi's ruling overturned by Wisconsin Supreme Court
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UPDATE, May 26, 2011: Maryann Sumi strikes down law.
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Judge Maryann Sumi rules AGAIN.

Another day, another order.

Judge Maryann Sumi, mother of foul-mouthed, union hack Jake Sinderbrand, has ordered that the budget repair law is not in effect.

She issued the order this morning even though on Tuesday she said that would be a move she would not make. Sumi said, "I hesitate to do that at this point because testimony is not closed and argument is not closed."

Although no testimony whatsoever has taken place since she said that, Sumi issued the order anyway.

Why did Sumi no longer "hesitate"?

What changed?

Did her husband, Carl Sinderbrand, and son, Jake Sinderbrand, convince her to quit "hesitating"?

Did she receive promises of support from union bosses?

That would be a corruption of our legal system.

Something is rotten in Dane County.

A state law to sharply curb union bargaining by public employees is not in effect, a Dane County judge ruled Thursday, continuing the turmoil over a measure that sparked massive protests and prompted Democrats to boycott the Senate for three weeks.

Gov. Scott Walker's administration said it would comply and discontinue the implementation of the law.

"Based on the briefs of counsel, the uncontroverted testimony, and the evidence received at the March 29, 2011, evidentiary hearing, it is hereby DECLARED that 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 has not been published within the meaning of (state statutes), and is therefore not in effect," Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled in a two-paragraph order.

...In response to the order, Walker's administration said it was halting action on putting the law in force.

"While I believe the budget-repair bill was legally published and is indeed law, given the most recent court action we will suspend the implementation of it at this time," said a statement from Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch.

"I am pleased that now we have a clear statement that the law is not in effect and that we have to straighten this out," said La Follette, a Democrat.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said the order was needed because he said Walker's administration had ignored past warnings from the judge.

"This morning with her added order she has taken away their last excuse," his statement said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) called the order "judicial activism at its worst."

"Once again, one Dane County judge is doing everything she can to stand in the way of our efforts to improve the economy and create jobs," said a statement he issued.

...Sumi's latest order is in sharp contrast to what she said two days earlier in court. Then, Ozanne asked her to issue an order declaring the law was not in effect, but Sumi declined to do so.

"That is yet to be determined," she said then. "I hesitate to do that at this point because testimony is not closed and argument is not closed."

No testimony has been taken since Sumi said that.

Clearly, Sumi is doing the bidding of the unions.

She pulled this latest order out of thin air, something she said she would not do.

This is judicial activism.

This is Dane County.
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Read Sumi's March 31, 2011, ruling.

Maryann Sumi Blocks Law - Again

UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Maryann Sumi's ruling is overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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UPDATE, May 26, 2011: Maryann Sumi strikes down law.
_______________

UPDATE, March 31, 2011: Sumi rules AGAIN.

Judge Maryann Sumi, mother of foul-mouthed, union hack Jake Sinderbrand, has ordered that the budget repair bill is not in effect.

A state law to sharply curb union bargaining by public employees is not in effect, a Dane County judge ruled Thursday, continuing the turmoil over a measure that sparked massive protests and prompted Democrats to boycott the Senate for three weeks.

Gov. Scott Walker's administration said it would comply and discontinue the implementation of the law.

"Based on the briefs of counsel, the uncontroverted testimony, and the evidence received at the March 29, 2011, evidentiary hearing, it is hereby DECLARED that 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 has not been published within the meaning of (state statutes), and is therefore not in effect," Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled in a two-paragraph order.

...In response to the order, Walker's administration said it was halting action on putting the law in force.

"While I believe the budget-repair bill was legally published and is indeed law, given the most recent court action we will suspend the implementation of it at this time," said a statement from Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch.

"I am pleased that now we have a clear statement that the law is not in effect and that we have to straighten this out," said La Follette, a Democrat.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said the order was needed because he said Walker's administration had ignored past warnings from the judge.

"This morning with her added order she has taken away their last excuse," his statement said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) called the order "judicial activism at its worst."

"Once again, one Dane County judge is doing everything she can to stand in the way of our efforts to improve the economy and create jobs," said a statement he issued.

...Sumi's latest order is in sharp contrast to what she said two days earlier in court. Then, Ozanne asked her to issue an order declaring the law was not in effect, but Sumi declined to do so.

"That is yet to be determined," she said then. "I hesitate to do that at this point because testimony is not closed and argument is not closed."

No testimony has been taken since Sumi said that.

Clearly, Sumi is doing the bidding of the unions.

She pulled this latest order out of thin air, something she said she would not do.

This is judicial activism.

This is Dane County.

Read Sumi's March 31, 2011, ruling.
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Judge Maryann Sumi is blocking the implementation of the budget repair LAW.

No surprise there.

The Sinderbrand family must be celebrating tonight.


From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A Dane County judge Tuesday blocked the state from implementing Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining measure.

“Further implementation of the act is enjoined,” said Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi.

Sumi noted her original restraining order issued earlier this month was clear in saying that the state should not proceed with implementing the law. The Walker administration did so after the bill was published Friday by a state agency not included in Sumi’s earlier temporary restraining order.

“Apparently that language was either misunderstood or ignored, but what I said was the further implementation of Act 10 was enjoined. That is what I now want to make crystal clear,” she said.

But minutes later, outside the court room, Assistant Attorney General Steven Means said the legislation “absolutely” is still in effect.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) balked at that statement.

“It’s just startling that the attorney general believes you should not follow court orders anymore,” he said.

The restraining order is in effect until Friday, when more testimony will be taken. At that point, Sumi could rule on whether the law should be suspended for a longer period.

Sumi noted she has not yet found that lawmakers violated the open meetings law, but noted the Legislature could resolve the matter by passing the bill again. Andrew Welhouse, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), said there are no plans to try to pass the bill again.

First, 14 AWOL Democrat state senators held the people of Wisconsin hostage.

Now, a woman in a black robe is trying to do the same thing.
________________

Read Maryann Sumi's March 29, 2011, order.

Carl Sinderbrand: Political Contributions

Media Trackers reveals that Judge Maryann Sumi's husband, Carl Sinderbrand, donated to the campaigns of three of the 14 formerly AWOL Wisconsin Democrat senators: Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch.

Sinderbrand also donated to Democrat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in his unsuccessful campaign against Scott Walker to become governor of Wisconsin.

The Sinderbrand family is clearly supporting the Democrat, pro-union, anti-taxpayer, anti-Scott Walker agenda.

Jake Sinderbrand, son of Carl Sinderbrand and Judge Maryann Sumi, is rabidly pro-union and anti-Scott Walker, as a proud former worker for the AFL-CIO and SEIU.

Was Sumi's ruling ever really in doubt?

From Media Trackers, crossposted at Big Government:

Judge Sumi’s Husband Donated to Three of Badger 14

There was already cause for Judge Maryann Sumi to have recused herself in the collective bargaining lawsuit since her son, Jake Sinderbrand is a former employee of the AFL-CIO and SEIU, now more conflict of interests have been discovered.

Judge Sumi’s husband, Carl Sinderbrand donated to the campaigns of three of the “Badger 14″: Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch. Additionally Sinderbrand donated to Tom Barrett in his fight against Scott Walker for the governorship..

Media Trackers concludes, "This is not the impartiality Wisconsin deserves on the bench."

Judge Sumi is a liberal activist, practicing politics from the bench. She should have recused herself.
_________________

Here's more on Carl Sinderbrand's political contributions, from Media Trackers: JoAnne Kloppenburg Accepted Donation From Judge Sumi’s Husband

Jake Sinderbrand

Jake Sinderbrand, son of Judge Maryann Sumi, poses a bit of a problem for his mother.



Son of Sumi touts his work for the AFL-CIO and SEIU.

He has developed his professional political experience serving as a lead field manager with the AFL-CIO and as data manager for the SEIU State Council through the 2008 election cycle.

Check out Jake on Facebook.

Look at his profile picture.



Read his wall.



Here's a nice comment from Judge Sumi's son about Governor Scott Walker:

Forget the Marquette transcripts--I wonder how this guy passed kindergarten math

This one requires an explicit language warning:

RIP middle class--Wisconsin has officially become the Tea Party's laboratory for plutocracy. This is the beginning of the end unless we can get these fuckers out of office. 299 days to recall; please do what you can to fight this travesty.

Sinderbrand calls Governor Walker "McCarthy Jr." as he counts down the days to a recall election.

Even Republican pollsters are showing that Wisconsin opposes union-busting (and Republican papers are reporting it). 363 days and counting until McCarthy Jr. is recalled.

The son of Sumi, AFL-CIO and SEIU employee, clearly has strong opinions on Governor Walker and the budget repair bill. He has an agenda.

Does the apple fall far from the tree?
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Note: Carl Sinderbrand, husband of Maryann Sumi, lists Jake Sinderbrand as family on his Facebook page.





Carl also lists "Left Field Strategies," Jake's firm, under Activities and Interests.
_______________

UPDATE: Carl Sinderbrand removed "Left Field Strategies" from his Activities and Interests.

Also, content from Jake Sinderbrand's "Left Field Strategies" site has been removed and the header has been replaced with this:


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UPDATE, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bloggers use son to attack judge in union bargaining case

What?

Who's "using" Jake Sinderbrand to "attack" Sumi?

There's no exploitation here. It's not an "attack" to point out the truth and inform.

I prefer to view the information about Sinderbrand as a revelation. It's enlightening. No attacks here.

By using such terms, it's clear that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is attempting to spin and do damage control for the Sinderbrand family and Judge Sumi. The bias is evident.
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UPDATE: Carl Sinderbrand's Political Contributions

Maryann Sumi, Mark Levin, and 'Legal Anarchy'

On his radio program on Friday, Mark Levin delivered a terrific monologue about the Democrats in Wisconsin and Judge Maryann Sumi.

Listen to the podcast.

He begins his show talking about the "legal anarchy in Wisconsin" and Sumi's decision. Levin succinctly reviews what has happened the past few weeks and explains the current situation.

Transcript

MARK LEVIN: We have legal anarchy in the state of Wisconsin, legal anarchy because one, one despot in a black robe decided she wanted to go national and draw attention to herself as she drags the state of Wisconsin into anarchy.

Now let's take a step back and see what's taken place here because it can happen in your own state.

Yes, there was an election in November. You know, people are told for good government purposes, get out there and vote. Well, they did. They threw out the Democrats and they put in the Republicans. Republicans didn't hide their agenda. The Governor of Wisconsin, now, Scott Walker, among other things said, 'Look, we've got to pull back on these government unions and collective bargaining.'

And that message more than any other resonated with the people of Wisconsin, and they turned out and they voted. They elected him governor. He follows an extremely irresponsible Left-wing ideologue governor named Doyle, who was abusing the taxpayers at every turn, as were the Democrats in the State Legislature.

So, the people decided through a legitimate, state constitutional means to address this. So they did something they've rarely done in Wisconsin. They turned the whole state over to the Republicans.

Well, the unions weren't going to allow that, particularly the government unions. The Democrats weren't going to allow that, and the big media, well, they weren't going to allow it either.

So the Senate Democrats, now in the minority, they don't like the outcome of the election and neither do their bought and paid for union bosses. But they don't have the votes to stop the agenda that the people in Wisconsin just voted for. So what do they do? They use the rules of the Senate against the people - not against the Republicans, not against the Governor - against the people of Wisconsin. And they leave the state. They leave the state. They leave their responsibilities because they do not want to honor the electorate. They don't like the results and they figure they're going to do whatever they can to undermine them.

So what that means, you folks in Wisconsin who voted, is that a small cabal of Leftist hoodlums disenfranchised you, or attempted to.

Did Republican State Senators leave Wisconsin when the Democrats controlled it?

No.

Then, all over the country, public and private sector union bosses sent out e-mails, and faxes and phone calls. Everybody head to Madison. Make as much noise as you can. Bring your signs. Take vacation leave. Pretend you're sick. Take sick leave. If you're retired, come on over. We need your help. All the rabble-rousers showed up, and while you're at it, let's empty the colleges, too - Madison obviously known as a very Left-wing town. Bring the high school students. Bring your kids.

And so they poured into Madison. They poured into the Capitol building. And they were screaming and chanting, threatening people, bullying people, pushing around reporters, trying to block their cameras.

But they still lost. They still lost.

The vote was had, but they don't like the vote that occurred in the State Legislature. They don't like the vote that occurred in the State Senate. They don't like the fact that the Governor signed the bill that he said he would sign. So a Democrat operative, a former elected official in the Wisconsin Legislature, he forum shopped. He found one of their favorite liberal lowest court judges and sought a temporary restraining order.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I don't believe that guy thought he would get a ruling favorable. That was a 'Hail Mary' but he threw it right to her, and this lovely lady - just look at her picture - this lovely lady, she caught it. She was thrilled to get it.

Now first of all, what this tells you, whether they lose elections, whether they lose votes in state legislatures, it doesn't matter. By hook or by crook, you are not allowed to effectively or successfully challenge the Left. You're just not. Whether it's the environment, whether it's health care, whether it's collective bargaining, you, ladies and gentlemen, are not allowed to reverse course. I don't care how much you pay in taxes, how miserable the health care system's going to be, I don't care how many illegal aliens are crossing into your town, it doesn't matter.

You have no say. Now you can go through the motions according to the Left, you can go through the motions and vote. And if the outcome is one that they like, they'll let it stand. But if it's an outcome they don't like, they're not going to let it stand. They're going to disenfranchise you in every way they know how.

If they can't get what they want by leaving town, they'll go to a liberal activist judge. And if they couldn't get what they wanted from her, well they'll go to the Secretary of State who will slow down the process of actually implementing the law so that the Left-wing locals can cut their deals with the government unions real fast before the law takes effect. If that doesn't work, well, they'll use the bureaucracy to punish you. This is what I mean - it's a soft tyranny. Absolutely a soft tyranny.

Levin dissects Sumi's ruling and explains Wisconsin law, going through the four elements required for a temporary restraining order. He clearly details the holes in Sumi's ruling.

Levin goes on:

LEVIN: Now in addition to everything I've just said, we have death threats, death threats against legitimately elected public officials. Death threats - and barely a word is said, barely a concern is raised.

I'm glad Levin spent so much time on Friday discussing Sumi and the Wisconsin case, the thuggery of the Left.

A national audience needs to know what the Democrats, the unions, and Judge Sumi are doing - attempting to disenfranchise millions of Wisconsinites as they wage war against taxpayers and the middle class.

Judge Maryann Sumi Blocks Law

UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Maryann Sumi's ruling is overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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UPDATE, May 26, 2011: Maryann Sumi strikes down law.
_______________

UPDATE, March 31, 2011: Sumi rules AGAIN.

Judge Maryann Sumi, mother of foul-mouthed, union hack Jake Sinderbrand, has ordered that the budget repair bill is not in effect.

A state law to sharply curb union bargaining by public employees is not in effect, a Dane County judge ruled Thursday, continuing the turmoil over a measure that sparked massive protests and prompted Democrats to boycott the Senate for three weeks.

Gov. Scott Walker's administration said it would comply and discontinue the implementation of the law.

"Based on the briefs of counsel, the uncontroverted testimony, and the evidence received at the March 29, 2011, evidentiary hearing, it is hereby DECLARED that 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 has not been published within the meaning of (state statutes), and is therefore not in effect," Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled in a two-paragraph order.

...In response to the order, Walker's administration said it was halting action on putting the law in force.

"While I believe the budget-repair bill was legally published and is indeed law, given the most recent court action we will suspend the implementation of it at this time," said a statement from Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch.

"I am pleased that now we have a clear statement that the law is not in effect and that we have to straighten this out," said La Follette, a Democrat.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said the order was needed because he said Walker's administration had ignored past warnings from the judge.

"This morning with her added order she has taken away their last excuse," his statement said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) called the order "judicial activism at its worst."

"Once again, one Dane County judge is doing everything she can to stand in the way of our efforts to improve the economy and create jobs," said a statement he issued.

...Sumi's latest order is in sharp contrast to what she said two days earlier in court. Then, Ozanne asked her to issue an order declaring the law was not in effect, but Sumi declined to do so.

"That is yet to be determined," she said then. "I hesitate to do that at this point because testimony is not closed and argument is not closed."

No testimony has been taken since Sumi said that.

Clearly, Sumi is doing the bidding of the unions.

She pulled this latest order out of thin air, something she said she would not do.

This is judicial activism.

This is Dane County.

Read Sumi's March 31, 2011, ruling.
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UPDATE, March 29, 2011: Maryann Sumi Blocks Law - AGAIN
________________

The assault on Wisconsin's middle class taxpayers continues.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi decided to issue a restraining order that blocks Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing Act 10 on or before March 25. In other words, the judiciary has joined the fight against Wisconsin taxpayers.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order Friday, halting Gov. Scott Walker's law that would sharply curtail collective bargaining for public employees.

Sumi's order will prevent Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law - and allowing it to take effect - until she can rule on the merits of the case. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat, is seeking to block the law because he says a legislative committee violated the state's open meetings law in passing the measure, which Walker signed on Friday.

Sumi, who was appointed to the bench by former GOP Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, said Ozanne was likely to succeed on the merits.

"It seems to me the public policy behind effective enforcement of the open meeting law is so strong that it does outweigh the interest, at least at this time, which may exist in favor of sustaining the validity of the (law)," she said.

The judge's finding - at least for now - is a setback to Walker, a Republican, and a victory for opponents, who have spent weeks in the Capitol to protest the bill. Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the governor's side will ultimately prevail in court.

Assistant Attorney General Steven Means, who was part of the state's legal team, said after the ruling that "we disagree with it."

"And the reason they have appellate courts is because circuit court judges make errors, and they have in this case."

Means said that the state will ask the state Appeals Court to overturn the temporary restraining order Friday or early next week. He said that the Appeals Court is not required to hear an appeal because a final decision has not been reached in the case.

Means said the state was prepared for Sumi's decision. He said the state had a chance to substitute judges, but decided not to do so.

Sumi said that, if the Legislature wanted to come back to re-enact the bill, they would have the right to do that.

In the name of Wisconsin taxpayers, I think the Legislature should come back and reenact the bill.

It's important for communities to be able to plan and not be held in a state of limbo.

Republicans should make it clear that voting on the bill again should not be seen as a sign of having broken the Open Meetings Law. Rather, it's an effort to give taxpayers relief and local governments direction as soon as possible.

If the Democrats shamefully flee the state again to avoid their responsibilities as legislators, it will be clear that they are nothing but puppets of the unions and the Obama administration.

Enough with the delay tactics and obstruction carried out by the 14 AWOL Dem senators and Doug La Follette. Enough with the violence being carried out by the union bosses and their thugs.

Act in the name of Wisconsin taxpayers and the middle class. Follow through on the results of the November 2010 elections. Let the voices of Wisconsin voters, taxpayers, be heard.

In short, send help for the taxpayers and middle class immediately rather than leaving us hanging in the courts. Save jobs. Prevent layoffs.
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Mark Levin responds:

A hack in a robe pretending to be a judge.

From Christian Schneider:

Wis. Stat. 19.87: Legislative rules trump statutes. And the rules give special procedures to special session bills.

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UPDATE: Maryann Sumi, Mark Levin, and "Legal Anarchy"