Wisconsin governor to propose stripping most public employee bargaining rights

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker will propose removing nearly all public employee collective bargaining rights to help plug a $3.6 billion budget hole, a Republican briefed on the governor's plan told The Associated Press on Thursday. Walker will propose a change in state law to remove public employees' ability to negotiate on any issue except salary, according to the person, who was in Walker's closed-door briefing with members of the state Senate on Thursday but spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to release the information. The Republican governor also will refinance state debt to...