MADISON (WKOW) -- Nearly five months after Gov. Scott Walker announced his "budget repair" bill, it's taking effect.
Secretary of State Doug LaFollette published the law in the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday, and it's set to take effect Wednesday.
The law takes away most collective bargaining rights for a majority of public employees. The measure also requires almost all public employees to contribute more to their health care and pensions. State employees will see the first reductions in their paychecks in late August.
Gov. Walker says the measures are necessary to balance the state's budget gap.
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the Capitol Square for weeks protesting the plan.
