KA-BOOM! Wisconsin Senate Republicans pass collective bargaining portions of budget repair bill

Wisconsin Senate Republicans have exploded the Nuke Option on Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill. Republicans stripped out all the fiscal language and passed the collective bargaining portions of the bill without the need for quorum.

Journal Sentinel: Madison — The Senate abruptly passed a controversial budget-repair bill Wedneday night - without Democrats - and sent the measure to the Assembly, which is expected to pass it Thursday.

The bill eliminates almost all collective bargaining for public workers.

It passed18-1, with Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) casting the no vote. None of the 14 Senate Democrats was present.[...]

But late Wednesday, a committee stripped some elements from the bill that they said allowed them to pass it with a simple majority present. The most controversial parts of the bill remain intact.

The Senate abruptly sent the budget-repair bill Wednesday to the committee of legislators from both houses at about 4 p.m. and the committee convened at 6, taking action within minutes.

The Assembly earlier had passed the original measure and now must take up the version from which fiscal matters were removed. [MORE]

The Wisconsin Senate Republicans should have taken this route two weeks ago when it became quite clear the the AWOL Democrats were not going to return. This would have saved weeks of protest and certainly would not have allowed the left to sway public opinion.

The Assembly must vote on the new bill tomorrow. Between now and then I fully expect the left to raise all kinds of hell in a futile attempt to stop it. Should Wisconsin Republicans succeed in curtailing public employee's collective bargaining options, and survive doing so, then expect these measures to catch on like wildfire across the nation. This is why I also suspect that the left is going to make sure maximum chaos insures after the vote.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: Journal Sentinel Online

Vacation from reality: WI's AWOL Dem's request for a Border Summit

The Fleebaggers while vacationing from the job responsibilities in Illinois also seem to be "vacationing from reality". They have requested a meeting with Governor Scott Walker on the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

CNN: (CNN) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Monday dismissed as "ridiculous" a letter from a Democratic state Senate leader who suggested a meeting "near the Wisconsin-Illinois border" to discuss the state's budget impasse.

Sen. Mark Miller sent the letter to Walker on Monday, offering a border summit as a way to resume stalled negotiations on the state's budget.

This is unreal. The Democrats flee the state to hold the democratic process hostage, then when public opinion starts to move their way they want to negotiate. Gangster government anyone?

Senate Republicans should have pulled the trigger on the nuke option, day one. This would have sent a clear message to the Fleebaggers that hijacking democracy is not an option.

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal suggested that the Fleebaggers may return soon. From this letter from the Republican Senate Majority leader, it looks like the mixed messages from the Fleebaggers might suggest they are starting to go in different directions.

National Review: 

March 7, 2011
Sen. Mark Miller
Parts Unknown, IL

Dear Senator Miller,

Thank you for your hand-delivered letter with an offer to meet, in Illinois, about the business and future direction of Wisconsin.

Let’s set aside how bizarre that is for a moment.

As you know, this legislation is designed to finally balance the state budget, prevent layoffs and create jobs in the real world. There are hundreds of thousands of unemployed or underemployed Wisconsinites, and at least 1,500 more whose jobs are in the balance because of your media stunt. We all deserve better than this.

In the meantime, members of your caucus have been meeting with the governor’s staff, talking to the media, trying to find a way back to Madison, and contradicting your message in public. In case you don’t remember, you were present yourself at one of those meetings with the governor’s staff. Your grasp of reality, and control of your caucus as minority leader, continues to amaze me.

As you know, your opportunity to compromise and amend the bill was on the floor of the state Senate. As you know, you forfeited that right and opportunity when you decided to flee the state instead of doing your job.

Your stubbornness in trying to ignore the last election and protect the broken status quo is truly shameful. While we wait for you and your colleagues to finally show up, Senate Republicans continue to stand ready to do the job we were elected to do, here in Wisconsin. I hope you are enjoying your vacation, and your vacation from reality.

Sincerely,
Scott Fitzgerald
Senate Majority Leader
CC: Governor Scott Walker

Time will tell.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: CNN
Via: National Review

Fleebaggers to return to state soon

Wisconsin's 14 AWOL Democrats are looking to return to the state now that public opinion has shifted against Walker and the Republicans. The Fleebaggers point to all the recent polls that shows people are opposed to curtailing union's collective bargaining rights. In effect the Fleebaggers feel that Republicans might now be scared off from supporting Walker's budget repair bill.

Wall Street Journal: Playing a game of political chicken, Democratic senators who fled Wisconsin to stymie restrictions on public-employee unions said Sunday they planned to come back from exile soon, betting that even though their return will allow the bill to pass, the curbs are so unpopular they'll taint the state's Republican governor and legislators. [...]

Sen. Mark Miller said he and his fellow Democrats intend to let the full Senate vote on Gov. Scott Walker's "budget-repair" bill, which includes the proposed limits on public unions' collective-bargaining rights. The bill, which had been blocked because the missing Democrats were needed for the Senate to have enough members present to vote on the bill, is expected to pass the Republican-controlled chamber.

He said he thinks recent polls showing voter discontent with Mr. Walker over limits on bargaining rights have been "disastrous" for the governor and Republicans and give Democrats more leverage to seek changes in a broader two-year budget bill Mr. Walker proposed Tuesday.

Senator Miller may have a point. If Republicans go by the polls out today, they may very well have reason to fear a backlash. However, as the old saying goes, a day in politics is like a lifetime. The budget repair bill is coming so early in both Walker's and the legislature's term, it is hard to tell if these numbers will stick over time, especially if the reforms produce positive results. Here is to hoping the the Senate Republicans are thinking more long term rather than short term.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Wall Street Journal
Via: WPRI

WI Republican senators threaten Fleebaggers with contempt

Journal Sentinel: Madison — - Pressure ratcheted up on absent Senate Democrats Thursday, as they were found in contempt by GOP senators and Gov. Scott Walker said he will start sending out layoff notices to state unions and workers by the end of Friday if the standoff over his budget-repair bill isn't resolved.

"Even today I hold out some hope that this can be resolved by the Senate coming back," Walker said in an interview Thursday. "But by the end of the day tomorrow, we have a legal and a moral obligation to start forewarning people."

Walker has said that he would seek the layoffs of up to 1,500 state employees in an attempt to save $30 million to help address the state's fiscal problems. He said he would seek to protect workers in round-the-clock jobs such as prison guards and medical staff.[...]

Also Thursday, Republicans in the state Senate found Democrats in contempt - a move that means Democrats could be taken into custody.

"We simply cannot have democracy be held hostage because the minority wants to prove a point," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau).

The Senate adopted the resolution to find Democrats in contempt on a 19-0 vote. It says they are violating a Senate rule that requires senators to receive a leave of absence before being absent for a day.

Fitzgerald said that Republicans were initially "nervous" about taking such a step but that Democrats have created a "constitutional crisis."

"This is not about a budget-repair bill or about politics," Fitzgerald said. "This is much bigger than that and the minority party has forced our hand . . .  They're insulting the very fabric of our representative democracy."

Well duh, these actions should have been done on day one. Lawmakers simply walking out to get their way is not what democracy is all about. The Fleebaggers are creating a crazy situation in Wisconsin and the foot dragging by the Republican senators only makes it worse.

I guess after that when Glenn Grothman got caught in that crowd, the Republicans realized just how crazy thing are going to get the longer this drags out. If they were smart they would ready the nuke option pronto.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: Journal Sentinel

No Work, No Pay: Wisconsin Senate passes resolution to fine Fleebaggers

620WTMJ: MADISON - The 14 Wisconsin state Senate Democrats who left the state two weeks ago will now face fines of $100 for each day they miss, if they miss two or more days.

Republicans remaining in the Senate approved the daily fine on Wednesday morning with none of the Democrats present.[...]

The resolution passed on Wednesday also requires the missing Democrats to reimburse the Senate for any costs incurred during attempts to force them to return. Their salary and other per diem payments can be withheld until they pay back the penalties and costs.

According to TODAY'S TMJ4's Mick Trevey, there are punishments incorporated into the resolution which would allow for the removal of offices from senators, to downsize their offices, to take away spending capabilities for their offices for photocopies and office supplies, even to changing the way the staffs are run.
The two-day clock would not begin until Thursday, and if senators do not return two days later, the $100 fines and other measures could possibly begin.

These Wisconsin Republicans are slow thinkers. This resolution should have been brought up on day two of the Fleebaggers absence. The $100 fine is way too skimpy. No doubt the Fleebaggers' union bosses will be reimbursing them.

If the Republican senators want the Fleebaggers to return, they are going to have to inflict much more pain than that. For starters they can get behind the recall effort just like the Democrats are doing. Then start passing legislation that any self respecting Democrat cannot abide by.  A good starting point would be to start passing some serious Pro-Life legislation, like completely defunding Planned Parenthood. That will get the Fleebagger's attention.

Via: Memorandum
Via: 620WTMJ
Via: The Plum Line

A break in the wall? Fleebaggers experiencing "dissension in the ranks"

I maybe pleasantly proven wrong about Scott Walker's ultimatum.

Fox Nation: Fox Nation has learned exclusively from a highly placed source within Wisconsin state politics that the fourteen AWOL Democrats are experiencing "dissension in the ranks." State Sen. Julie Lassa (D) is pregnant and "extremely unhappy" about being on the run. State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D) has been hit particularly hard by his paycheck being withheld. Wisconsin State Senate leadership is currently negotiating with eight of the fourteen to come home. Gov. Scott Walker (R) has declared today the deadline for action on his budget repair bill and plans to give a budget address at 5 p.m. ET. A deal may be announced around that time. Developing...

This is certainly good news.  However, I do not envy the Democrats who cave.  The left will unleash unimaginable hate towards those Fleebaggers. No excuse they can give will ever be acceptable for the far left.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Fox Nation

Scott Walker gives Fleebaggers 24 hours to return

Wisconsin governor Scott Walker has given the AWOL Democrats (Fleebaggers) 24 hours to get back to Wisconsin, so they can vote on his proposal or risk missing a debt restructuring deadline.


Call me a pessimist but I just don't see the Fleebaggers coming home for that.  Keep in mind that these Democrats are very beholden to the unions. One fifth of the campaign contributions the Fleebaggers receive comes from unions. So, if unions are willing to accept give backs and layoffs instead of touching collective bargaining, then I cannot see how a missed deadline will motivate these Fleebaggers.


If Public Policy Polling is correct, this long and drawn out standoff is taking a toll on Walker. I am sure the Fleebaggers are reading this poll as well and will be further motivated to stay away. 


Walker should have given this ultimatum on the first day the Fleebaggers fled and then pass the collective bargaining parts of the bill separately without the need for quorum.  Once the collective bargaining parts were passed there would be little reason for the Fleebaggers to stay away.


We will have to see how this all plays out, but I see don't see the Fleebaggers coming home.  


Via: Memeorandum
Via: Reuters
Via: Journal Sentinel
Via: Public Policy Polling

Video: Hideaway in Rockford, Il.

Rockford's tourism board is wasting no time capitalizing on the Fleebagger craze.  Now that is what I call capitalism!


Via: Memeorandum
Video h/t: Hot Air

Rasmussen: 67% disapprove of Wisconsin's Fleebaggers

Rasmussen latest polls deals with the standoff in Wisconsin.  The poll finds that while voters are split over public sector unions and Scott Walker, they clearly dislike the Fleebagger tactic.

Rasmussen: Half of America’s voters favor public sector unions for government workers, but they strongly oppose the tactic by Wisconsin state senators to flee their state to prevent a vote that would limit the rights of such unions.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 25% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of this tactic, while 67% disapprove. State legislators in Indiana have used the same approach to avoid a vote in their state. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Sizable majorities of Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party reject such a strategy. Democrats are fairly evenly divided, with 48% approving and 44% disapproving.

Voters are split on support of unions:

Voters continue to be closely divided over the question of public employee unions themselves. Fifty percent (50%) at least somewhat favor such unions, while 44% oppose them. These figures include 25% who Strongly Favor the unions and 25% who are Strongly Opposed.

Support for Scott Walker is also on the edge:

Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters nationwide now support Walker, virtually unchanged from earlier this week. Forty-two percent (42%) support the unions for teachers and other state employees in the standoff, up from 38% in the previous survey. Eleven percent (11%) remain undecided.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans and 53% of voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties agree with the governor. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Democrats side with the union workers.

I think if the standoff in Wisconsin goes wrong, these numbers will move one way or the other depending on who looks like the bad guy. If Walker allows this to drag out very long he may come up the loser. On the other hand, if unions continue to escalate their aggression, they could end up the losers.

The clear losers are the Fleebaggers.  I wish Rasmussen would have asked folks why they disapprove.  Is it because it looks like they are sore losers or is it because they are shirking their responsibilities.  I would love to know.

Click over to Rasmussen to see the rest of the results, they are quite interesting.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Rasmussen

Indiana Dems go AWOL too

The sore loser syndrome is spreading to Indiana.

Indianapolis Star: Seats on one side of the Indiana House were nearly empty today as House Democrats departed the the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation.

A source tells the Indianapolis Star that Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky. They need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana.

The House was came into session twice this morning, with only three of the 40 Democrats present. Those were needed to make a motion, and a seconding motion, for any procedural steps Democrats would want to take to ensure Republicans don’t do anything official without quorum.

With only 58 legislators present, there was no quorum present to do business. The House needs 67 of its members to be present.
Today’s fight was triggered by Republicans pushing a bill that would bar unions and companies from negotiating a contract that requires non-union members to kick-in fees for representation. It’s become the latest in what is becoming a national fight over Republican attempts to eliminate or limit collective bargaining.

Is this the new democracy? When you lose an election you just walk out when the victors propose something you don't like.  It seems Democrats are more than willing to trash their brand further for the sake of the unions.


I also want to point out something from the article about Mitch Daniels.

Gov. Mitch Daniels had warned his party late last year against pursuing so-called “right to work” legislation. While he agreed with it philosophically, he said it was a big issue that needed a state-wide debate and noted no Republican had run on this in the November election.

But now that his party is pursuing it, Daniels has not spoken against it. He has so far issued no statement, has held no news conference and has not been interviewed by any Indiana reporters in the Statehouse. Daniels did do a radio interview Monday with National Public Radio in which he discussed the labor fight which has caused a government stalemate in Wisconsin — where Senate Democrats have fled to Illinois to prevent a vote on a bill that limits collective bargaining --a now, apparently, his state.

That sounds rather timid to me. Could someone please tell me why some people find Mitch Daniels ideal for 2012?

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Indianapolis Star

Busted! Wisconsin's AWOL Dem Senators Located

They can run, but they cannot hide.  A Wisconsin TV station has spilled the beans about where the "undisclosed location" really is.

The Badger 14 blog: After days of journalists meeting with the fugitive Wisconsin “Badger 14″ senators and disclosing only that they’re in an “undisclosed location” in Illinois, it appears that one press outlet has broken the embargo on their precise location.

Early this evening, Wausau’s WAOW reported on its website:  “The 14 Democratic Senators who fled the state are assumed to be just over the border in Harvard, Illinois.” 

That report appears corroborated by the remark Sen. Tim Carpenter made earlier in the day, when asked by an interviewer with Milwaukee’s TMJ4 where, exactly, in Illinois he was.  Sen. Carpenter said:  “Well, I can look out my window and see Wisconsin.  But not the Soviet Union — just Wisconsin.”  Read and listen here.  Indeed, it turns out that Harvard, Illinois, is on the northern border of Illinois (about 85 miles southeast of Madison), so that someone in a high-rise Harvard hotel could easily see Wisconsin out the window.  Google maphere.

From the information, Gateway Pundit places them here:

Heritage Inn and Suites – Harvard, Illinois1701 S Division St, Harvard, IL, 60033 United States

A quick Google search for images an this is what the place they are staying in looks like.

Nice pool, but is that a hot tub in the room?  Kinda No Tell Motel-ish, no?

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Badger 14 blog

Via: Gateway Pundit