Milwaukee Braces For Showdown With State Over Pension Funds

[midnight]

Back in February, before the state legislature passed Walker's bill, Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley issued a legal opinion arguing that the pension provision did not apply to Milwaukee's retirement system. Citing Wisconsin's "home-rule power" — a provision in the state Constitution that allows cities to govern their affairs independently of the state — Langley wrote that Milwaukee could operate its pension fund however the city saw fit.
When the bill became law, however, Barrett sought a second opinion, asking Walker to have the state's Attorney General settle the matter. (Barret does not have the power to independently request the attorney general's opinion.) Walker declined to pass the issue along to the state AG, instead asking his own legal team to handle it. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Barrett never heard back from Walker's office until his chief of staff, Patrick Curley, repeatedly pressed them on the matter -- and when he did hear back, the response didn't really resolve anything.
"As you know, it is not the role of the governor's office to provide legal advice to the city of Milwaukee," Walker's chief legal counsel, Brian Hagedorn, wrote in a letter to Curley. "Therefore, though I would be happy to provide a fuller response to Mr. Langley's opinion, I do not believe that would be appropriate in this situation, especially given the highly politicized nature of questions regarding "
Curley told the JS that the letter, "basically says nothing," and that the long delay in hearing back from the state was a direct jab at Barrett.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/milwaukee-braces-for-showdown-with-state-over-pension-funds-2011-8#ixzz1YGjs2Ead


Does anyone know if there is a difference between Milwaukee County and Milwaukee City pensions?

[HereSince1628]

1. If the people don't know the law, they can't use it against the government

Why is it that I have a strange sense of certainty that if over-riding Milwaukee's home rule power was constitutional the State AG would have delivered the opinion in an instant?

[midnight]

2. True... And what I don't understand is why the Mayor is second quessing this home

rule, and asking this Republican attorney general? The Mayor is an attorney too.

[HereSince1628]

3. Nor can I...

though I don't think anyone would describe Barrett as an aggressive progressive.