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Title: Wis. Assembly passes bill taking away union rights
Source:
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URL Source: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20110225/D9LJQ7700.html
Published: Feb 25, 2011
Author: TODD RICHMOND
Post Date: 2011-02-25 13:46:31 by Capitalist Eric
Keywords: None
Views: 7402
Comments: 20
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly took the first significant action on their plan to strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers, abruptly passing the measure early Friday morning before sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening. The vote ended three straight days of punishing debate in the Assembly. But the political standoff over the bill - and the monumental protests at the state Capitol against it - appear far from over. The Assembly's vote sent the bill on to the Senate, but minority Democrats in that house have fled to Illinois to prevent a vote. No one knows when they will return from hiding. Republicans who control the chamber sent state troopers out looking for them at their homes on Thursday, but they turned up nothing. "I applaud the Democrats in the Assembly for earnestly debating this bill and urge their counterparts in the state Senate to return to work and do the same," Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said in a statement issued moments after the vote. The plan from Republican Gov. Scott Walker contains a number of provisions he says are designed to fill the state's $137 million deficit and lay the groundwork for fixing a projected $3.6 billion shortfall in the upcoming 2011-13 budget. The flashpoint is language that would require public workers to contribute more to their pensions and health insurance and strip them of their right to collectively bargain benefits and work conditions. Democrats and unions see the measure as an attack on workers' rights and an attempt to cripple union support for Democrats. Union leaders say they would make pension and health care concessions if they can keep their bargaining rights, but Walker has refused to compromise. Tens of thousands of people have jammed the Capitol since last week to protest, pounding on drums and chanting so loudly that police providing security have resorted to ear plugs. Hundreds have taken to sleeping in the building overnight, dragging in air mattresses and blankets. With the Senate immobilized, Assembly Republicans decided to act and convened the chamber Tuesday morning. Democrats launched a filibuster, throwing out dozens of amendments and delivering rambling speeches. Each time Republicans tried to speed up the proceedings, Democrats rose from their seats and wailed that the GOP was stifling them. Debate had gone on for 60 hours and 15 Democrats were still waiting to speak when the vote started around 1 a.m. Friday. Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, opened the roll and closed it within seconds. Democrats looked around, bewildered. Only 13 of the 38 Democratic members managed to vote in time. Republicans immediately marched out of the chamber in single file. The Democrats rushed at them, pumping their fists and shouting "Shame!" and "Cowards!" The Republicans walked past them without responding. Democrats left the chamber stunned. The protesters greeted them with a thundering chant of "Thank you!" Some Democrats teared up. Others hugged. "What a terrible, terrible day for Wisconsin," said Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee. "I am incensed. I am shocked." GOP leaders in the Assembly refused to speak with reporters, but earlier Friday morning Majority Leader Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, warned Democrats that they had been given 59 hours to be heard and Republicans were ready to vote. The governor has said that if the bill does not pass by Friday, the state will miss a deadline to refinance $165 million of debt and will be forced to start issuing layoff notices next week. However, the deadline may not as strict as he says. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau said earlier this week that the debt refinancing could be pushed back as late as Tuesday to achieve the savings Walker wants. Based on a similar refinancing in 2004, about two weeks are needed after the bill becomes law to complete the deal. That means if the bill is adopted by the middle of next week, the state can still meet a March 16 deadline, the Fiscal Bureau said. Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach said he and his colleagues wouldn't return until Walker compromised. Frustrated by the delay, Senate Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Jeff Fitzgerald's brother, ordered state troopers to find the missing Democrats, but they came up empty. Wisconsin law doesn't allow police to arrest the lawmakers, but Fitzgerald said he hoped the show of authority would have pressured them to return. Erpenbach, who was in the Chicago area, said all 14 senators remained outside of Wisconsin. "It's not so much the Democrats holding things up," Erpenbach said. "It's really a matter of Gov. Walker holding things up."
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#1. To: Capitalist Eric (#0)
The perp walk of shame.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
I guess the Koch Brothers were having a party.
"I hate this damn job" - Sarah Palin
They've gotten their money's worth with this bunch. I wonder why the Koch's don't send a boat to Libya to save all those stranded American oil company employees? Oh well they too are replaceable.
"http://first-draft-blog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5ced53ef0148c7a28c4b970c-320wi"
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Why? What could they do for the Koch's? They're totally expendable.
"I hate this damn job" - Sarah Palin
They cheated. It's the only way the GOP can win. They are destroying this nation.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
They might have some first hand knowledge of bargain basement refineries soon to come on the market.
"http://first-draft-blog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5ced53ef0148c7a28c4b970c-320wi"
You're pathetic. Truly.
Socialist ass-hats think "There will be no more money when the U.S. dollar has no value, until that time we can keep printing more." And yes, that IS from LF's answer to Ben Bernanke, go65, leading disfunctional and delusional socialist of the forum. "You want me to kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, I'll kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, Rebs, or Sioux, or Cheyenne... For 500 bucks a month I'll kill whoever you want. But keep one thing in mind: I'd happily kill you for free." Algren, "The Last Samurai"
"Elections have consequences".
oh please drama queen, it's your flee bagging buddies you gave up their elected duties and ran out of town like a bunch of scared little girls. i love to see you democrat pussies whining.
You assume that moral relativists like gobwinson accept that there are consequences to anything. To idiot leftists/socialists like him, consequences don't matter, all that matters is intent. That's why they harp on the mantra of "saving the children" for every totalitarian measure that comes down from the tyrannical government.
Socialist ass-hats think "There will be no more money when the U.S. dollar has no value, until that time we can keep printing more." And yes, that IS from LF's answer to Ben Bernanke, go65, leading disfunctional and delusional socialist of the forum. "You want me to kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, I'll kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, Rebs, or Sioux, or Cheyenne... For 500 bucks a month I'll kill whoever you want. But keep one thing in mind: I'd happily kill you for free." Algren, "The Last Samurai" That's their right. That's a filibuster. That's why a quorum is put in place. It seves as a check on th tyranny of the majority by the minority party.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Listen eric punk, if you mention my name curtesy a ping. Punk.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
ESAD.
Socialist ass-hats think "There will be no more money when the U.S. dollar has no value, until that time we can keep printing more." And yes, that IS from LF's answer to Ben Bernanke, go65, leading disfunctional and delusional socialist of the forum. "You want me to kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, I'll kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, Rebs, or Sioux, or Cheyenne... For 500 bucks a month I'll kill whoever you want. But keep one thing in mind: I'd happily kill you for free." Algren, "The Last Samurai" No that is not their right. A quorum is needed in case someone is absent for a legitimate reason. Which is why the sergeant at arms has the right to compel them to attend.
Quorum-busting has been used for centuries. For instance, during his time in the state legislature, Abraham Lincoln leapt out of a first story window (the doors of the Capital had been locked to prevent legislators from fleeing) in a failed attempt to prevent a quorum from being present.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
He is not taking away their rights, he is taking away their perks- and that is what happens when the unions have contributed to the decline of the State's financial power. Reap-sow.. Boo-hoo.
EXACTLY.
Socialist ass-hats think "There will be no more money when the U.S. dollar has no value, until that time we can keep printing more." And yes, that IS from LF's answer to Ben Bernanke, go65, leading disfunctional and delusional socialist of the forum. "You want me to kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, I'll kill THE ENEMIES of Jappos, Rebs, or Sioux, or Cheyenne... For 500 bucks a month I'll kill whoever you want. But keep one thing in mind: I'd happily kill you for free." Algren, "The Last Samurai" The Female Of The Species by Rudyard Kipling http://www.online-literature.com/keats/916/
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
Republicans immediately marched out of the chamber in single file.
#2. To: Capitalist Eric (#0)
Republicans immediately marched out of the chamber in single file.
#3. To: Skip Intro (#2)
I guess the Koch Brothers were having a party.
#4. To: Rek (#3)
#5. To: Rek (#3)
I wonder why the Koch's don't send a boat to Libya to save all those stranded American oil company employees?
#6. To: Skip Intro (#5)
Debate had gone on for 60 hours and 15 Democrats were still waiting to speak when the vote started around 1 a.m. Friday. Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, opened the roll and closed it within seconds.
#7. To: Skip Intro (#5)
Why? What could they do for the Koch's?
#8. To: Skip Intro (#2)
#9. To: Capitalist Eric (#0)
#10. To: Godwinson (#6)
#11. To: Godwinson (#6)
They cheated. It's the only way the GOP can win. They are destroying this nation.
#12. To: We The People (#10)
(Edited)
To: Godwinson "Elections have consequences".
#13. To: calcon (#11)
oh please drama queen, it's your flee bagging buddies you gave up their elected duties and ran out of town like a bunch of scared little girls.
#14. To: Capitalist Eric, We The People (#12)
You assume that moral relativists like gobwinson accept that there are consequences to anything.
#15. To: Godwinson (#14)
#16. To: Godwinson (#13)
That's their right. That's a filibuster. That's why a quorum is put in place.
#17. To: A K A Stone (#16)
#18. To: Capitalist Eric (#0)
#19. To: diva betsy ross (#18)
#20. To: calcon (#11)
oh please drama queen, it's your flee bagging buddies you gave up their elected duties and ran out of town like a bunch of scared little girls.
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