MADISON, WI (AP)-- Governor Scott Walker says whether he signs or vetoes a bill making it harder to force public schools to remove race-based mascots comes down to concerns about whether current law tramples on free speech rights.
Walker's comments Tuesday are the strongest signal yet that he may sign the bill despite pressure from Wisconsin's tribal leaders and others to veto it.
Walker told The Associated Press in an interview he would announce his decision Thursday, the deadline for him to act.
The bill requires those who object to a school's mascot to circulate a petition and get 10 percent of the district's population to sign it in order to trigger a review.
Current law requires a review based on a single complaint.