Returned (WI) Democrats' votes won't count, (R) Senate leader says

[HereSince1628]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117984654.html

Madison — In a sign GOP lawmakers are still smarting from the recent exodus of Senate Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) told his caucus Monday that Democrats can't vote in committee because they remain in contempt of the Senate.

"They are free to attend hearings, listen to testimony, debate legislation, introduce amendments, and cast votes to signal their support/opposition, but those votes will not count, and will not be recorded," Fitzgerald wrote his colleagues.

<snip>

[inademv]

1. So wait

why did they return?

[PeaceNikki]

2. Because the Republicans passed the part they were trying to save:

Collective bargaining.

[inademv]

4. But

didn't they have the chance to overturn that vote because it was illegal? Didn't returning just give them a free way to pass the same bill+worse legally?

[PeaceNikki]

5. Returning doesn't hurt those efforts. Suits have been filed.

[inademv]

12. So how does that stop the legit bill

which they can pass or already have (haven't caught much news on it lately). Won't we just be back in the same place but worse now?

[PeaceNikki]

14. They knew they couldn't stop the bulk of it and everyone had agreed to the pension/health care cuts.

The stand they were taking was specific to the collective bargaining.

I agree, the whole bill sucks, the budget sucks, but they were denying quorum in a specific attempt to save collective bargaining.

[Sky Masterson]

3. They are silencing the voices of thousands of Wisconsinites

That is going to make one hell of a campaign commercial.

[Brickbat]

6. This whole thing has gotten to the point of hilarity.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

7. Except nobody's laughing -nt

[Brickbat]

10. We all should be.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

15. I'll laugh when they are stopped!

[HereSince1628]

11. The WI Legislature's R's are certainly petulent, but then rudeness seems inherent

as a Fitzgerald family trait. Both brothers have it, and practice it shamelessly.

[RoccoR5955]

8. Wait until he's recalled, and is out of a job

Then he'll change his tune.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Keep Digging Fitzie...

In my chats with the fine folks of Shorewood last weekend I encountered some "independents" and republicans who signed recall petitions for the sole reason that the legislature became a rubber stamp, not a deliberative body. While some did agree with the talking points about the budget, the ham-handed antics of the Fitzgerald cabal are pissing people off. The more they attempt to "punish" Democrats the more petty they look and the more it reminds people as to who turned their state legislature into a dysfunctional circus.

[liberal N proud]

13. The fascist have taken full control of Wisconsin

Law no longer has the meaning we once thought is did.

[theothersnippywshrub]

16. Will they have to wear a large yellow D on their clothing? n/t

[amb123]

17. I wonder if this is the first step by WI Repukes to start the Impeachment process

against the Senate Democrats. I wouldn't be surprised.

[rurallib]

18. it's like a kids game now - make up the rules as you go

this is precisely why we need regulation in industry etc. - because the fucking republicans will only do what they are forced to do. Else they just make it up.

[Historic NY]

19. I have a feeling evey vote taken will be thrown out if contested...

get the court seat on 4/5

[HereSince1628]

20. They'll know we're alive on April 5!

Still keeping an eye on possible rule changes around voter ID.

[Historic NY]

21. thats a goood sign slogan...

[Historic NY]

22. thats a goood sign slogan...

[HereSince1628]

23. "Alive on April 5" were Jesse Jackson's final words on Saturday

[Blue Owl]

24. What we need here is more bipartisanship

:sarcasm:

[HereSince1628]

25. To hell with bipartisanship, we need COMPROMISE!

YES, WE CAN!!!!!!

:sarcasm:

[Blue Owl]

26. How can we reach out to the Republicans while they kneecap us?

WINNING THE FUTURE

:sarcasm:

[HereSince1628]

27. We reach for the hand that isn't holding the length of pipe?

:sarcasm:

[genna]

28. Isn't this evidence of an oligarchy? When did we transform from a representative republic?