...uh WINNING!!!

[HapSmo19]

Wis. GOP bypasses Dems, cuts collective bargaining

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin Senate succeeded in voting Wednesday to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers, after Republicans outmaneuvered the chamber's missing Democrats and approved an explosive proposal that has rocked the state and unions nationwide.
"You are cowards!" spectators in the Senate gallery screamed as lawmakers voted. Within hours, a crowd of a few hundred protesters inside the Capitol had grown to an estimated 7,000, more than had been in the building at any point during weeks of protests.
"The whole world is watching!" they shouted as they pressed up against the heavily guarded entrance to the Senate chamber.
All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's "budget-repair bill" - a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.
The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measure that spends money. But Republicans on Wednesday took all the spending measures out of Walker's proposal and a special committee of lawmakers from both the Senate and Assembly approved the revised bill a short time later.
The unexpected yet surprisingly simple procedural move ended a stalemate that had threatened to drag on indefinitely. Until Wednesday's stunning vote, it appeared the standoff would persist until Democrats returned to Madison from their self-imposed exile.
"In 30 minutes, 18 state senators undid 50 years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten," said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller. "Tonight, 18 Senate Republicans conspired to take government away from the people."
The state Assembly previously approved the original proposal and was set to consider the new measure on Thursday. Miller said in an interview with The Associated Press there is nothing Democrats can do now to stop the bill: "It's a done deal."
The lone Democrat on the special committee, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, shouted during the meeting that it was a violation of the state's open meetings law. The Senate's chief clerk said hours later the meeting was properly held.
The Senate convened within minutes of the committee meeting and passed the measure 18-1 without discussion or debate. Republican Sen. Dale Schultz cast the lone no vote.
"The jig is now up," Barca said. "The fraud on the people of Wisconsin is now clear."
Walker had repeatedly argued that collective bargaining was a budget issue, because his proposed changes would give local governments the flexibility to confront budget cuts needed to close the state's $3.6 billion deficit. He has said that without the changes, he may have needed to lay off 1,500 state workers and make other cuts to balance the budget.
Walker said Wednesday night that Democrats had three weeks to debate the bill and were offered repeated opportunities to come back, but refused.
"I applaud the Legislature's action today to stand up to the status quo and take a step in the right direction to balance the budget and reform government," Walker said in the statement.
The measure approved Wednesday forbids most government workers from collectively bargaining for wage increases beyond the rate of inflation. It also requires public workers to pay more toward their pensions and double their health insurance contribution, a combination equivalent to an 8 percent pay cut for the average worker.
Police and firefighters are exempt.
Walker's proposal touched off a national debate over union rights for public employees and its implementation would be a key victory for Republicans, many of whom have targeted public employee unions amid efforts to slash government spending. Similar collective bargaining restrictions are making their way through Ohio's Legislature, while several other states are debating measures to curb the power of unions in smaller doses.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have converged on Wisconsin's capital city for three weeks of protests, some of which prompted school districts to cancel classes due to teacher absences.
Within hours of Wednesday night's vote, protesters had seized the Capitol's lower floors, creating an ear-splitting free-for-all of pounding drums, horns and whistles. Police all but gave up guarding the building entrances. But Wisconsin teachers unions urged their members to go to work on Thursday rather than join in the re-energized demonstrations.
Wednesday's drama unfolded less than four hours after Walker met with GOP senators in a closed-door meeting. He emerged from the meeting saying senators were "firm" in their support of the bill.
For weeks, Democrats had offered concessions on issues other than the bargaining rights and they spent much of Wednesday again calling on Walker and Republicans to compromise.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said earlier that Republicans had been discussing concessions offered by Walker, including allowing public workers to bargain over their salaries without a wage limit. Several GOP senators facing recall efforts had also publicly called for a compromise.
"The people of Wisconsin elected us to come to Madison and do a job," Fitzgerald said in a statement after the vote. "Just because the Senate Democrats won't do theirs, doesn't mean we won't do ours."
Union leaders weren't happy with Walker's offer, and were furious at the Senate's move to push the measure forward with a quick vote. Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the Wisconsin state AFL-CIO, said after Wednesday's vote that Republicans exercised a "nuclear option."
"Scott Walker and the Republicans' ideological war on the middle class and working families is now indisputable," Neuenfeldt said.
While talks had been going on sporadically behind the scenes, Republicans in the Senate also had publicly tried to ratchet up pressure on Democrats to return. They had agreed earlier Wednesday to start fining Democrats $100 for each day legislative session day they miss.

SAWEEEeeeEEET!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umeZtszNShk

[Metsfanmax]

This is a sad day for democracy.

[HapSmo19]

I bet thats what tapeworms say on their way out too.


Look on the bright side: the Olympic flame in London will be carbon-neutral!!!

[jay_a2j]

This is a sad day for democracy.

That's nice.... because we are a Republic.

[natty dread]

Republic? What's that? Sounds like a commie invention.

[thegreekdog]

This is a sad day for democracy.

I've heard this elsewhere and it's very much incorrect. The people of Wisconsin elected a legislature and a governor. ELECTED! DEMOCRATICALLY! And these individuals passed this law. This is a great day for democracy. It may be a sad day for the state employees unions in Wisconsin, however. Perhaps that's what you meant to say.

To paraphrase President Obama, "Tough shit, we won."

[jefjef]

This is a sad day for democracy.

That's nice.... because we are a Republic.

Constitutional republic. It gets old and tiresome hearing socialists calling/trying to make America a democracy.

Instead of fines they should be removed for failing to appear and do the job they were elected to do.

And if the state employees don't like the terms of employment let them leave and go to work in the private sector. Oh wait. They probably won't because the benefits and pay would likely be less.

[SirSebstar]

This is a sad day for democracy.

I've heard this elsewhere and it's very much incorrect. The people of Wisconsin elected a legislature and a governor. ELECTED! DEMOCRATICALLY! And these individuals passed this law. This is a great day for democracy. It may be a sad day for the state employees unions in Wisconsin, however. Perhaps that's what you meant to say.

To paraphrase President Obama, "Tough shit, we won."

I concur with the statement that this is a great day, but i'll amend it to the government.
I am thinking the majority of the poeple would not have voted for such a proposal, but then it is a democracy by proxy...
I do say its a black day for worker rights though...

still kuddo's to the reps for outwitting the fleeing democrats.. nice work

[natty dread]

It gets old and tiresome hearing socialists calling/trying to make America a democracy.

Am I missing something here?

[Metsfanmax]

This is a sad day for democracy.

I've heard this elsewhere and it's very much incorrect. The people of Wisconsin elected a legislature and a governor. ELECTED! DEMOCRATICALLY! And these individuals passed this law. This is a great day for democracy. It may be a sad day for the state employees unions in Wisconsin, however. Perhaps that's what you meant to say.

I'm not talking about the content of the bill. I'm talking about the fact that the politics in Wisconsin got so incensed that elected politicians actually left the state rather than choosing to do the job they were elected to do, and that the party in power had to resort to political tactics to get their bill through anyway. This is not a victory for anyone. It's a loss for democracy, because this time around, democracy failed. The Democrats who were elected failed to represent their constituents, and the Republicans were forced to pass bills in a chamber that did not have adequate representation of the citizens in the state.

[thegreekdog]

This is a sad day for democracy.

I've heard this elsewhere and it's very much incorrect. The people of Wisconsin elected a legislature and a governor. ELECTED! DEMOCRATICALLY! And these individuals passed this law. This is a great day for democracy. It may be a sad day for the state employees unions in Wisconsin, however. Perhaps that's what you meant to say.

I'm not talking about the content of the bill. I'm talking about the fact that the politics in Wisconsin got so incensed that elected politicians actually left the state rather than choosing to do the job they were elected to do, and that the party in power had to resort to political tactics to get their bill through anyway. This is not a victory for anyone. It's a loss for democracy, because this time around, democracy failed. The Democrats who were elected failed to represent their constituents, and the Republicans were forced to pass bills in a chamber that did not have adequate representation of the citizens in the state.

I can agree with that I suppose, although in my defense, the persons who said "this is a sad day for democracy" were arguing from an apparently different point of view than you.

[the.killing.44]

It gets old and tiresome hearing socialists calling/trying to make America a democracy.

Am I missing something here?

Yeah, the fact that jefjef is retarded.

[Metsfanmax]

This is a sad day for democracy.

I've heard this elsewhere and it's very much incorrect. The people of Wisconsin elected a legislature and a governor. ELECTED! DEMOCRATICALLY! And these individuals passed this law. This is a great day for democracy. It may be a sad day for the state employees unions in Wisconsin, however. Perhaps that's what you meant to say.

I'm not talking about the content of the bill. I'm talking about the fact that the politics in Wisconsin got so incensed that elected politicians actually left the state rather than choosing to do the job they were elected to do, and that the party in power had to resort to political tactics to get their bill through anyway. This is not a victory for anyone. It's a loss for democracy, because this time around, democracy failed. The Democrats who were elected failed to represent their constituents, and the Republicans were forced to pass bills in a chamber that did not have adequate representation of the citizens in the state.

I can agree with that I suppose, although in my defense, the persons who said "this is a sad day for democracy" were arguing from an apparently different point of view than you.

Fair enough. I should have said this has been a sad month for democracy.

[Timminz]

What a surprise! Who would've thunk that he really was only trying to remove workers' rights, and had no real concern for the budget.

[PopeBenXVI]

What a surprise! Who would've thunk that he really was only trying to remove workers' rights, and had no real concern for the budget.

At first I thought Walker took away workers "rights" given to them by almighty God Then I realized the privileges were given to them decades ago before they knew it would bankrupt the state. Now the privileges have been taken away from the children and they are having a temper tantrum. They need a time out.

Walker...WINNING!

[Phatscotty]

This is a sad day for democracy.

That's nice.... because we are a Republic.

Constitutional republic. It gets old and tiresome hearing socialists calling/trying to make America a democracy.

Instead of fines they should be removed for failing to appear and do the job they were elected to do.

And if the state employees don't like the terms of employment let them leave and go to work in the private sector. Oh wait. They probably won't because the benefits and pay would likely be less.

If the Senators are gone and say they won't come back, why even go through the process of a recall?

[thegreekdog]

What a surprise! Who would've thunk that he really was only trying to remove workers' rights, and had no real concern for the budget.

Hee hee hee.

[notyou2]

This is a sad day for democracy.

I've heard this elsewhere and it's very much incorrect. The people of Wisconsin elected a legislature and a governor. ELECTED! DEMOCRATICALLY! And these individuals passed this law. This is a great day for democracy. It may be a sad day for the state employees unions in Wisconsin, however. Perhaps that's what you meant to say.

I'm not talking about the content of the bill. I'm talking about the fact that the politics in Wisconsin got so incensed that elected politicians actually left the state rather than choosing to do the job they were elected to do, and that the party in power had to resort to political tactics to get their bill through anyway. This is not a victory for anyone. It's a loss for democracy, because this time around, democracy failed. The Democrats who were elected failed to represent their constituents, and the Republicans were forced to pass bills in a chamber that did not have adequate representation of the citizens in the state.

Who says those Democrats weren't doing the job they were elected to do? Perhaps the majority of their constituents, that elected them, do not support what the Republicans were attempting to do. If this is the case in each of their ridings, then I think they were representing their constituents.

[Metsfanmax]

Who says those Democrats weren't doing the job they were elected to do? Perhaps the majority of their constituents, that elected them, do not support what the Republicans were attempting to do. If this is the case in each of their ridings, then I think they were representing their constituents.

There already exists a method for demonstrating that your constituents do not support a bill. It's called voting against the bill.

[notyou2]

Who says those Democrats weren't doing the job they were elected to do? Perhaps the majority of their constituents, that elected them, do not support what the Republicans were attempting to do. If this is the case in each of their ridings, then I think they were representing their constituents.

There already exists a method for demonstrating that your constituents do not support a bill. It's called voting against the bill.

They did vote. They voted with their feet.

Is that conventional politics? NO.

However, the Republicans are not playing conventional politics either. This indeed is a sad day for democracies everywhere.

[Metsfanmax]

They did vote. They voted with their feet.

Is that conventional politics? NO.

However, the Republicans are not playing conventional politics either. This indeed is a sad day for democracies everywhere.

In what way were the Republicans not playing conventional politics, prior to the Democrats walking out?

[jefjef]

Who says those Democrats weren't doing the job they were elected to do? Perhaps the majority of their constituents, that elected them, do not support what the Republicans were attempting to do. If this is the case in each of their ridings, then I think they were representing their constituents.

There already exists a method for demonstrating that your constituents do not support a bill. It's called voting against the bill.

They did vote. They voted with their feet.

Is that conventional politics? NO.

However, the Republicans are not playing conventional politics either. This indeed is a sad day for democracies everywhere.

Oh jiffy2,

Sure looks like democratic process has been followed by those who were democratically elected. I call that a WIN for the democratic process.

If the voters of Wisc do not like what is being done for them or their neighbors or the well being of their state they will have an opportunity to democratically change it with their voting rights. I also call that a WIN for the democratic process.

The people of Wisc did NOT elect anyone to throw a tantrum and run and hide. They failed to carry out their responsibilities. They should receive no pay. They should also be removed from their elected positions.

So how's things in Canada?

[Doc_Brown]

Just to point out, the "political tactics" that the Republicans used to get this through were the equivalent of the Democrats using reconciliation to pass the Health Care Act. (And before you start arguing that this isn't true and I'm just distorting things because of a conservative bias, it was the self-acknowledged liberal, Nate Silver, that first noted this fact over on FiveThirtyEight.)

There was actually a story on NPR a couple weeks ago about the reason the Repubs up there are pushing the collective bargaining limitations so strongly. Apparently there's a prison in Wisconsin that costs about $350K per year to run. It houses exactly 1 inmate and employs six prison guards. A nearby county (possibly in Michigan?) has offered to house the prisoner, which would save the state $300K per year, but due to union agreements, union members cannot be laid off if their jobs are contracted out to other jurisdictions. It's issues like that that cause major headaches when they try to trim out wasteful spending and inefficient use of resources. Government moves slowly as it is. Unions also cause delays and hangups in organizational changes. When you combine the two, it's difficult to get much of anything done.

[Johnny Rockets]

BRAVO!!



Well said, Doc Brown.

JRock

[jay_a2j]

Who says those Democrats weren't doing the job they were elected to do? Perhaps the majority of their constituents, that elected them, do not support what the Republicans were attempting to do. If this is the case in each of their ridings, then I think they were representing their constituents.

There already exists a method for demonstrating that your constituents do not support a bill. It's called voting against the bill.

Yup, running away and hiding is not what they were elected to do. Please tell me they weren't being paid when they failed to show up for work. Is there any of us here who could do the same and still have a job to go back to?????