Act 10 is the measure passed in 2011 by then-Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republicans that curtailed collective bargaining for most public employees, among other matters. 

In other words, it is a monumental set of changes that had been in place for nearly eight years when Evers was sworn in. The very wording of the promise – "repeal or soften" – suggests a recognition that it would be an ongoing effort.

In the governor's most recent budget, for 2021-23, Evers proposed restoring collective bargaining rights for state and local government frontline workers and their bargaining units to provide them the ability to negotiate over wages, hours, and conditions of employment. 

The budget also would have repealed and modified several other provisions put in place by Act 10, including the annual recertification requirement for state and local government bargaining units and the requirement that a majority of bargaining unit members (instead of majority of the vote) is needed to certify representatives, among other changes.

 "All of these provisions were struck from the final budget by Republicans in the Legislature," Evers' spokesperson Britt Cudaback said. 

 We could easily set this at Promise Broken, since we rate results, not effort or intent. And nothing has changed in regard to Act 10. That said, the promise was framed as more of a long-term thing, one that might be marked by incremental progress. 

 And with Evers seeking a second term, this debate could continue.

 So we rate this promise Stalled.

Act 10 was the signature accomplishment under Republican Gov. Scott Walker, a law that sharply limited collective bargaining for most public employees in Wisconsin.

Democrat Tony Evers narrowly defeated Walker in 2018 after a campaign in which the former schools superintendent said he would repeal or soften Act 10. At the halfway point in Evers' four-year term, it's time to check in on that promise.

Republicans have long celebrated Act 10 for the financial benefits it brought schools and local governments, while Democrats have decried it for hamstringing labor unions and their power to protect workers. In short, it's about as partisan a topic as there is.

And this particular chapter of Wisconsin governmental history hasn't exactly been marked by compromise.

Evers and the Republican-run Legislature have butted heads at almost every turn. Legislative leaders avoided taking action when Evers called special sessions on gun control, elections and police reform. This came to a head (or lack of one) in the last half of 2020 as the Legislature went more than six months without even passing a bill as COVID-19 exacted a heavy toll across the state.

In this political atmosphere — and amid a historic pandemic — Evers has not attempted to address Act 10. He is still only halfway through the term, so there's time to move the needle, but at this point we rate this promise Stalled.