For Immediate Release           

January 10, 2018                                                                                                          Contact:

Sen. Janis Ringhand       608-266-2253

                                                                                                                               Sen. Robert Wirch   608-267-8979

 

Legislation Would Eliminate Local Discrimination and

Sexual Harassment Laws

 Today, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform heard public testimony on Senate Bill 634, a controversial bill that would preempt local governments from exercising their constitutional rights under Wisconsin’s Constitution, which allows them to set their own ordinances regarding employment discrimination and other workforce conditions within their municipality.

“This bill is another example of Republican legislator’s telling local governments what they can and can’t do. Most communities do not have any of the regulations this bill seeks to ban on their books with the exception of a few who have ordinances regarding workforce discrimination, like sexual harassment,” said Senator Wirch.

Senate Bill 634 would explicitly deny victims of workplace discrimination from suing under local ordinances, such as those in Milwaukee and Madison.

“It’s extremely disappointing to see this bill coming forward at a time when women from every walk of life are coming forward to share their sexual harassment and assault stories with the world and joining the #MeToo movement.  We need to be expanding avenues for victims of sexual harassment and assault to get justice, and not making it harder,” concluded Senator Ringhand.

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