Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to freeze state workers’ pay for two years is just another partisan power grab.

The governor’s plan is to freeze wage increases across the board for all state employees over the next two years. Following the controversial bill earlier this year that removed union bargaining rights, this law is aimed at removing protections unions had negotiated for in the past.

Merit-based pay increases will be the only form of raises in the next two years – one of a few subtle moves to consolidate power within Walker’s ranks. All the raises will be handed out by the Office of State Employment Relations, taking authority away from local administrators who work with these employees on a daily basis. Marty Beil, director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, expressed his misgivings in the Wisconsin State Journal: “What does Greg Gracz (OSER director) know about the guy who works second shift in a prison? They can play footsie with their favorites without knowing whether someone deserves merit pay or not.”

I understand the administration holding the line on spending – that has been their mantra from day one. But no business can function at a high level when it does not reward the best and the brightest. The idea that government employees need to be treated more like private-sector employees has been central to the ongoing labor conversation in Wisconsin. Because of this, the centralized nature of the merit-pay raises a big red flag in this bill. With all raises operating from the Office of State Employment Relations, Wisconsin loses the flexibility to reward the best people.

One of the best politicians we have working at the Capitol today, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, cut through the BS when asked about the bill. “The governor’s continuing initiatives to centralize power and cut the people out of involvement in their government will do nothing to bring our state back together, nor does it create any jobs,” he said.

Increasing the effectiveness of government – or any business for that matter – is about delegating responsibility. If a merit-based pay increase is the only option, allow the officials who are working with these people on a daily basis to hand out the appropriate raises. If state government wants to be more competitive and more like the private sector, it must have the ability to reward the right employees for excellent work. Taking away that authority from local leaders doesn’t make sense.

It looks like Walker is more interested in being able to reward his lackeys than actually improving the viability and effectiveness of Wisconsin government. For a guy who promised so much, you would think the fact that Wisconsin lost jobs in September would be a catalyst for action. Instead, it seems Wisconsin will get more of the same as the Walker administration squeezes public employees and makes our government’s power structure even more top-heavy.

In the wake of losing 11,000 government jobs, something needed to be done. But I guess it was na?ve to expect a solution from this administration not to have some ulterior motives. Nov. 15 can’t get here soon enough.

John Waters ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in journalism.