Democrats pursue invalidating budget bill vote

[UrbScotty]

Source: WKOW 27

Assembly Democratic leaders said they are researching whether a hasty vote to pass Governor Walker's controversial budget repair bill was sufficiently flawed to be invalidated.

"We're looking at whether or not anything is legally or constitutionally problematic," said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha).

The vote shortly after one a.m. Friday was taken abruptly, with the measure passing 51-17, with more than two dozen Democrats unable to get to voting mechanisms in the chamber in time to record their votes.

The vote's aftermath was chaotic, with police officers providing a buffer between departing republicans and angry democrats, who chanted "Shame! Shame!"

Read more: http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14144568

[gateley]

1. K&R. nt

[annabanana]

2. keep fighting!. . . n/t

[marions ghost]

3. DEMS of Wisconsin

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[UrbScotty]

28. Hear, hear! (nt)

[barbtries]

4. i'll ask again

is there even one republican lawmaker in WI with a conscience and any respect for democracy?

[mascarax]

6. There were 4 Repubs that quickly voted against, but...

the assumption I read is they were given the OK because they live in swing districts. So not like it was a matter of conscience (if it was, then I've yet to hear any of them to speak up).

It's a great question and one that needs to be posed to all of them. I think the GOP State Senators need pressure now, at least those who didn't win by much in the last election. If just one of them cracks, that's all we need. At least to stop this round (the Kochs, etc. won't give up and will come up with something else for Walker).

[barbtries]

13. that's my thinking as well.

if there are any republicans in office in Wisconsin who may be prevailed upon to listen to the people. the power grab is so outrageous, so wrong not just in the aspects like ending collective bargaining or privatizing utilities (to the kochs), but in the underhanded, dishonest way it's been pushed through. where is their conscience? i keep thinking there must be at least one or two with still some conscience.

[Autumn Colors]

22. & what's to keep them from doing something else underhanded...

I can just see one or two republicans saying they'll vote against the bill, merely to lure the dems back for a vote. What's to prevent them from voting for the bill after they said they would vote against it?

Nothing.

Do not take ANY of them at their word about ANYTHING.

[barbtries]

23. some of them are going to have to fold

and the only way i can think of is by their constituents letting them know in no uncertain terms that if they don't act reasonably and fairly their political careers will end at the next election.
it may not move them. but what else, besides demonstrating,is there to be done?

[Autumn Colors]

30. But if they trick the dems into returning & then vote for the bill...

anyway, despite saying they wouldn't, you can be CERTAIN their "benefactors" will reward them handsomely for their loyalty and will flood their campaigns with cash.

EDIT: or promise them that the touchscreen voting machines will "help" them at election time...

[barbtries]

31. heaven forbid.

there has to be a way to make it all so transparent that if they try something really underhanded there will be no doubt whatsoever about who's acting in good faith and who is not. benefactors or not, i'm hoping that a few of them still have a conscience and failing that, that a few of them still care about their careers. i don't know. there's a lot riding on this.

[Nikia]

29. There was an article about it in the Oshkosh Northwestern

For all of them it was some combination of conscience and response from their constituents. They all stated they believed that it was wrong to take away collective bargaining. Two of them stated that they received many letters and emails against the bill 10 to 1.
I really think that they believed that they were doing the right thing.

[droidamus2]

5. Question

I know there were protests going on outside the chambers so it make sense there were police in the area but is it usual for police to be in the chambers or near enough that they would be available to 'protect' the Republicans? This episode just shows how much Republicans can't be trusted. The Republican leaders in the Assembly tell the Democrats they will have a chance to speak and with 15 speakers left (Would it have made that big a difference to let them speak and then vote I don't think so) they hold an extremely quick and obviously planned vote to pass the bill. The you look at Governor Walker in his famous prank call saying that he was basically willing to tell the Democrats that he was willing to negotiate but he had no intention of doing so. Where I come from that's called lying.

[A wise Man]

7. Amazing.....

how did they know that they would need protection after they single filed out of their private room to make an illegal vote...and who called the police to be their to protect them afterwards?????????

[Stuart G]

8. K and R nt

[FBaggins]

9. Is there a specific claim that could invalidate it?

K&R

[starroute]

12. There was a good thread on the subject yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x505675

The most informative post there turned into a thread of its own: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x508592

The short version is that the Assembly's rules take it as given that there will be enough time during voting to double-check whether everything has been recorded accurately. So cutting off voting before everyone has even had a chance to vote seems to violate the spirit of the rules, at the very least.

[FBaggins]

16. Thanks. I was afraid of that. "Intent" isn't going to get us very far.

We've spent the last couple weeks using the letter of the law against the intent.

Besides... who would the appeal be made to? The courts have no jurrisdiction to even review those rules, and the people who do are the ones who are wilfully violating that intent.

I'll reply on that other thread as well.

[liberal N proud]

10. K&R

[drm604]

11. And of course the police just happened to be nearby (even though they were unecessary).

Was there really any danger? Were the police even needed? I highly doubt it. Does anyone believe that there was really any danger of physical attack? It was theater. Those police were called in to make it appear that the Republicans had reason to fear those crazy violent Democrats.

The talking point will now be something like "The Democrats were such sore losers about the results of a legal vote that the Republicans required police protection".

[myrna minx]

14. K&R n/t

[rasputin1952]

15. There are 8 R's that can be recalled under the provisions of the ...

WI Constitution. Since I found out about this, I have yet to hear of any petitions being circulated to recall any of these 8. The others do not have the requisite 1 year+ in office to face recall, just as the governor has to be in a year before recall can be an option for the good people of WI.

From the beginning of this situation, there should have been recall petitions for the 8 that can go into the pit...I think an important tool is being wasted here. Even beginning recall petitions would have a dramatic impact on these clods, especially if a lot of signatures are gathered quickly.

[FBaggins]

17. Some of the House members weren't just elected?

others do not have the requisite 1 year+ in office to face recall


The rule isn't "1+ years in office"... it's "one year since the start of their current term"

[rasputin1952]

20. Aackk...

you are correct! Sorry I missed that...:(

I stand corrected...:hi:

[UrbScotty]

27. Indeed. Let's see some petitions!

[Zoeisright]

18. Problem is, repukes have no shame.

They're lying, cruel criminals.

[Plucketeer]

19. How come

this sorta "blood & spit" is SO RARE in federal offices??? OH - wait - money. :(

[bahrbearian]

21. Was the vote taken at 1am or 1pm?

[FBaggins]

24. One in the morning (AM). n/t

[Kingofalldems]

25. I bet all the freeper know-it-alls will deny this has any chance of working

K and R

[FBaggins]

26. You don't have to be a freeper or a "know it all" to know that this has no chance of working.

As I posted above, who would you appeal to? The courts can't review the rule and the Assembly (read: the majority) is the judge of its own rules.