Penalties against senators undone as GOP, Dems start reconciling

[PeaceNikki]

Wisconsin state senators started to take steps toward reconciliation Tuesday following the Democrats' decision to flee the state for three weeks to block passage of a bill taking away most collective bargaining rights from public workers.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he would rescind contempt orders placed against the Democrats when they were gone, a step that will allow Democrats to have their votes in committee action counted once again.

"It was an essential first step if we're going to be able to move forward," said Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Mark Miller. "It needed to be done."

Senate Republicans voted earlier this month to find the Democrats in contempt as one of a series of steps designed to pressure them to return. Those penalties included imposing $100 fines for each session day Democrats missed, authorizing police to detain the senators if seen in Wisconsin and taking away their staff members' access to copying machines. The fines were only in effect for one day.

More at link: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_e759f6e0-4f38-11e0-b971-001cc4c03286.html

[iwishiwas]

1. oh, Fritz, you are such a petty little man!

[Armstead]

2. Oh please don't reconcile

The GOPPERS don't deserve it

[glinda]

4. I hate the words reconcile and compromise.

[hollowdweller]

3. The republicans won

They gutted the benefits.

They scared the employees out of striking

They can afford to be gracious now.

[PeaceNikki]

5. It's not over, hollowdweller. They're running scared now. They've seen the recall drives.

[somone]

6. NEXT: Gov. Walker praises GOP senators' magnanimity in forgiving Democrats' dereliction

:sarcasm:

[PeaceNikki]

7. "Republicans end their sideshow: restore voting rights to Democratic Senators and rescind the fines

and penalties. Somehow, I think the ominous threat of lawsuits against them had an impact."

~said Chris Larson

http://www.facebook.com/VoteChrisLarson/posts/206983742645219

[theaocp]

8. WTF is this?!

"But Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) said earlier Tuesday he would introduce a constitutional amendment that would allow the Senate to proceed with a simple majority in all cases. That would make it impossible for a minority of lawmakers to block action on future bills by leaving the Capitol, though it takes at least two years to change the state constitution."

[PeaceNikki]

10. Perhaps he's anticipating the Repugs would do what they have so loudly denounced

when the majority party change happens very soon? The reality is that we would all get to vote on it anyway. The likelihood of it getting through 2 legislative sessions and passing referendum is slim.

[Lastactiongyro]

9. Haha they are trying to Backpedal, now that the Recall is coming at them!!!