Obama’s visit comes amid tight governor’s race

FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2010 file photo, President Barack Obama greets supporters before speaking on the economy at the Milwaukee Laborfest in Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee. The last time President Barack Obama came to Wisconsin to celebrate workers' rights on Labor Day, there was barely a hint of the turmoil that was to come just months later as public employees fought unsuccessfully to retain their ability to collectively bargain. Now, four years later, as the architect of the law that stripped unions of that power faces re-election, Obama is coming back to Milwaukee for an event also featuring Gov. Scott Walker's Democratic challenger Mary Burke. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2010 file photo, President Barack Obama greets supporters before speaking on the economy at the Milwaukee Laborfest in Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee. The last time President Barack Obama came to Wisconsin to celebrate workers' rights on Labor Day, there was barely a hint of the turmoil that was to come just months later as public employees fought unsuccessfully to retain their ability to collectively bargain. Now, four years later, as the architect of the law that stripped unions of that power faces re-election, Obama is coming back to Milwaukee for an event also featuring Gov. Scott Walker's Democratic challenger Mary Burke. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

By Associated Press August 30, 2014 3 min read

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The last time President Barack Obama celebrated workers’ rights at a Wisconsin Labor Day event, there was barely a hint of the turmoil that would embroil the state later when public employees staged massive protests in an unsuccessful bid to keep their collective bargaining rights.

Now, four years later, he’s returning to the state with the anti-union law’s architect, Republican Gov. Scott Walker, locked in a tight re-election campaign while considering a run for the White House in two years.

Polls show that Walker and Democrat Mary Burke are deadlocked with the election just over two months away. Walker is running on the platform that he turned around the state’s economy, thanks largely to his union rights law, which was his signature accomplishment.

That law, which put Wisconsin at the center of a national debate over union rights, stripped most public sector union members of their ability to collectively bargain and required them to pay more for their pensions and health care, which amounted to a pay cut.

Burke, a former state Commerce Department secretary and Trek Bicycles executive, isn’t promising to repeal the law if she’s elected. But she does support the restoration of public workers’ collective bargaining rights.