For the past year and a half, Wisconsin has been the epicenter of debates about the states’ fiscal health, public employee unions, recall elections, and the fortunes of the Democratic and Republican parties. The results of Tuesday’s elections in the Badger State, in which Gov. Scott Walker held off the recall challenge, have significant national implications worth reflecting on. In February 2011, Walker announced his plan to limit the subjects covered by collective bargaining for public employees, compel them to contribute more to their health care and pension plans, stop government from collecting dues automatically on unions’ behalf and require public employee unions to hold annual certification elections. The plan put the issue of unionized government in the national spotlight, where it has remained.
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