Wisconsin GOP ups pressure on Dems to return and vote

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Detroit News

Wisconsin Republicans today upped the pressure on Democrats who fled to Illinois to return home and vote on an anti-union bill, with the governor calling them obstructionists and a GOP lawmaker threatening to convene without them.

Gov. Scott Walker said the 14 minority Democrats who left Madison on Thursday were failing to do their jobs by "hiding out" in another state. And Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said his chamber would meet Tuesday to act on non-spending bills and confirm some of the governor's appointees even if the Democrats don't show up — a scenario that should outrage their constituents.

Senate Democrats acknowledged that the 19 Republicans could pass any item that doesn't spend state money in their absence. The budget-repair bill they have been blocking requires a quorum of 20 senators to pass, while other measures require only a simple majority of the chamber's 33 members.

Nonetheless, Democrats said they were standing firm in their opposition to the budget-repair bill, which would take away the right of most public employees to collectively bargain for their benefits and working conditions. Hundreds of protesters filled the Capitol for a sixth straight day, noisily calling on Walker to drop the plan they consider an assault on workers' rights. . .

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20110220/POLITICS03/102200319/1361/Wisconsin-GOP-ups-pressure-on-Dems-to-return-and-vote

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The Koch brothers have issued their marching orders to their GOP orcs. I have never seen anything more blatantly orchestrated in my life. I stand with the Wisconsin teachers.

[madmax]

1. Hold the line Dems - don't go back. nt

[somone]

2. Don't give in and don't give up

[midnight]

3. K&R

[Jackpine Radical]

4. The Rs can pass those bills with or without the Dems.

Therefore the presence or absence of the Dems won't affect the outcome of the non-spending bills. They can stay out of state and nothing changes--except that the budget destruction bill can't be acted on. They really have nothing to lose. The Rs are going to slime them either way.

[Drale]

5. I believe the Dem's have to be there

or there is not enough people to even call for a vote.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. That is right, for monetary bills--which the "Budget Repair Bill"

obviously is. However, the quorum rules are different for non-budget bills. They only need a majority for the quorum, which they have just from their own membership. Go back & read my post knowing that & see if it makes more sense now.

[brentspeak]

7. Plans have to be made to undo the damage Walker is about to inflict

1) Strategy to successfully recall him next Jan
2) Strategy to successfully recall as many GOP senators as possible
3) Plans to bring back collective bargaining power once the Democrats can again regain power in the Governor's office and legislature (provided Walker and the GOP succeed in stripping the public unions of collective bargain rights)]
4) Strategy to minimize/eradicate corporate $$$ propaganda influence within WI

Massive, coordinated effort will be required, but it's clear there are plenty of motivated and capable Wisconsin residents who can get the job done.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Absolutely.

America has entered a new era. And once again those beer-swilling Cheeseheads lead the way.

[Myrina]

13. Plans "have to be" made? Or plans "have been" made?

They do already exist ... at least for #1 & #2, via the social media I've been following ...

[SomeGuyInEagan]

15. So, where do we send out $$$!

This may be the beginning of a true progressive movement in this country. Finally.

[Guilded Lilly]

9. This is f*in RICH

"the governor calling them obstructionists" coming from the ultimate party of NO.
Republicans have gleefully earned their hideous reputation as consumate obstructionists.

[mvd]

11. I agree

How could he say that with a straight face?

[mvd]

10. Don't give in, Dems

When the fundamental right of workers to organize is threatened, measures like this must be taken.

[Omaha Steve]

12. Looks like the Democratic Wisconsin Senate will be on strike for the long haul

Good for them. K&R!

[pam4water]

14. Hope they tell him to go **** himself! The Democrats that left Texas when they were pulling

that redistricting gerrymandering should never have gone back!

[Kingofalldems]

16. K and R all Pro Union/Democratic Party threads

[Keefer]

17. Capitol Chaos: Could Union Bill Be Passed Separately Tuesday?

Source: Milwaukee radio station TMJ4

MADISON - Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says his chamber of the Wisconsin legislature will convene to pass non-spending bills and act on appointments on Tuesday even if minority Democrats remain out of state in an effort to block a vote on Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill.

Could one of those bills be the union aspect of the budget bill, in a separate vote on Tuesday?

Democratic state Sen. Jon Erpenbach told The Associated Press on Monday that Republicans could attempt to attach the part of the proposal taking away collective bargaining rights to an unrelated bill and pass it Tuesday.

"I told them, 'Listen, Senator Miller, we're marching forward with our business. I am setting the calendar for tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. I would expect that the Democrats will be there, but we will be taking up a resolution. We will be passing a piece of legislation, and we will also be confirming one of the governor's nominees to their cabinet position," said Republican State Senate President Scott Fitzgerald on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News."

Read more: http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/116591808.html

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Uh oh. I don't like this.

More at link...

[joeglow3]

18. Wow.

Seems like they can, as it does not have a monetary impact to it. The obvious next step is that we need to step up a cohesive ogranization to oversee the recall of all these people and undo the damage. Unfortunately, that will take a year or 2. How much damage can be done in so short a time? A LOT, I would wager.

[sabrina 1]

19. Workers across the state should go on strike if they even think

of overruling the people on this. This is no time to play nice!

These people are ruthless and the other side will have to be as ruthless.

[Jim__]

20. That would definitely put the lie to this being a budget measure.

Its a deliberate act to disempower working people. Let it be shown as such.

[Jim__]

21. dupe - delete

[ewagner]

22. Recalls could happen much quicker...

you are correct that a cohesive, coordinated effort needs to be established NOW....

If they pull a parliamentary trick to take away the rights they are losing the PR Battle.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. all the people and media are against them and they are cornered shithouse rats...RECALL WALKER NOW

[murielm99]

25. I wish that was true.

I still see a lot of anti-union sentiment. And many of the papers here (I am an hour from Madison), are siding with Walker. Many people only get their news from the TV and papers. I think it will take awhile for there to be a majority supporting the people of Wisconsin.

[HereSince1628]

24. can someone with a Lexus account look up rules for quorum in WI senate?

Is the quorum only needed for budget bills or is the WI senate going to act against its own governing rules?