MADISON – Last Thursday the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Milwaukee cannot require it's workers to live in the city. The decision effectively ends a long, drawn-out battle between the city and local police and firefighter unions.

“Decisions regarding residency requirements should be left to local communities to make," said Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) on the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling. "Local elected leaders have the closest ear to their neighbors’ wants and needs and are in the best position to act on concerns regarding residency requirements."

Larson believes such residency requirements make sense for the same reason every legislator has a requirement to live in their district. It makes you a better public servant when you live among the neighbors you serve.

“It's unfortunate that even in the state's supreme court, scheming to push the Republican party agenda is more important than standing up for established case law and what's best for Wisconsin,” concludes Larson.

Many people in other areas of the state assume that all union members tend to be Democrats. However, it is widely known in Milwaukee that the Police and Fire Department union members have been overwhelmingly Republican in recent years.