Posted on 02/24/2011 8:08:51 PM PST by Kevin in California
OK, I'm no political genius but can't the Wisconsin House/Senate just remove the collective bargaining language from the now budget bill? Then, tell the rat coward dems it's been removed and for them to get back to work to vote on the budget bill or the layoff notices are coming.
Then, attach the CB language to another bill as an amendment which wouldn't require a quorum.
Can that be done? Yes? No?
can it? yes.. I think it can. but there was a reason they did not want to split it. I am not sure why off hand.
Let them hide in chicago with Rham. While they are gone pass all sorts of pro-right wing bills and sign them in to law while they hide. Either they will come running back or, with the exception of budget issues WI will be a very.. very.. Red state.
I’d start with a 3 strikes and no welfare until you can prove your a US citizen, and have lived in WI for over 1 year bill or two. Carry permits? sure. Castle doctrine, why not?
Then again, that’ll push all their welfare west to Minnesota and we don’t need them here either.
The CB language is considered fiscal, therefore requires 20 for a quorum.
Welcome to 5 days ago, Kevin.
Anyhow, there are reasons for extending this out as far a possible for the GOP. Scott Walker is no Mitch Daniels, who pissed his pants when the Dems in his state ran away.
How long before the Governor can appoint replacements for the missing legislators?
Wisconsin has 33 state senators. To pass legislation on spending and taxing measures it requires a super majority or 3/5 of the senators present to have a quorum. There are 19 Republicans and 3/5 of 33 is 19.8 rounded up to 20. They need one Democrat present to be a quorum if all 19 Repubs are present too.
The quorum is 20 for fiscal bills as stated. The State Senate majority (R) leader has said he’s not willing to re-do the bill as suggested because there would be procedural complications, wasted time, etc. I trust they know the system and know what they’re doing.
Besides, when you enemy is destroying himself, you don’t want to get in his way.
I believe Gov.Walker will start laying-off state employees and eventually the Dems will cave. They think their “job” is to slow down the process, which they can claim they’ve done. But the vote will not be any different.
Right now the Assembly is going on 60 hours, Dems are objecting and pissing and moaning about everything. Democrats in the Assembly are now claiming sleep deprivation is affecting the “decorum of the body”. And it can lead to “hallucinizations” and affect the immune systems of members on medications. And that sleep deprivation can lead to DEATH! I kid you not!
Yes, it could be done but that would be mean. What are you some kind of fascist?
Until never. The Governor cannot appoint replacement Senators.
Yes, any deliberative body requires a quorum to take valid actions. However, a quick reading of the Rules of the Wisconsin Legislature shows that a quorum is a simple majority unless a fiscal measure is being considered, in which case it is 3/5 of the house in question.
All the GOP has to do is separate the partial suppression of public employee collective bargaining measure from the budget measure and vote move to pass it, and the ‘Rats bluff is called. It is not a fiscal measure (as it does not deal with taxes, expenditures or borrowing) and for such measures a simple majority seems to constitute a quorum. They could top it off by quickly moving Constitutional carry, castle doctrine, voter ID, and half a dozen other non-fiscal bills the ‘Rats would loathe out of committee for immediate votes.
Maybe they could be declared dead after they've been missing for awhile. Maybe they could be declared "politically dead" (sort of a variant of brain dead).
It's time for their affairs to be wrapped up.
Remember, Daniels accomplished what Walker is attempting six years ago.
Governor Walker doesn't want to take the fiscal aspect out of the bill either. I'm not sure of reasoning but I think there might be two reasons. One, we continue to make the AWOL dems look like idiots and two, it might cause the issue to go to the WI Supremes.
Both are speculation on my part.
What about work place law? after all they are AWOL in office...
Maybe filing a missing person report? APB for the persons of interest?
Why not? What happens when one dies or is unable to resume their duties? Surely they have laws to cover those possibilities. I would think moving out of the area and not doing the job they are elected to do, would me they are “unable to carry out their duties”...
What about “unable to do their duties”? Being in a hotel out of state would make them unable to do their job. Seems to me that an election could be called or something. These people are refusing to do what they were elected to do. So, something has to be done.
It is one thing to have a differing opinion, but you must show up and do what the people asked you to do.
As President Obama was fond of saying, “elections have consequences.” Walker won.
Huh? Daniels is folding like a poker chair.
My understanding is that the limitations on collective bargaining do not even apply to wages negotiations, but only to “work rules, hours, etc.”
If union “work rules” explain why ten men stand around watching while another guy fills in a pothole, then that has a huge impact on government costs. The Dems can’t admit the work rules have that effect on costs, however, so they can’t claim it is an issue requiring the 3/5ths quorum.
I agree with you that the GOP senators should take advantage of the situation to pass their entire agenda. They could do a lot to effectively reduce government costs without cost cutting or budget issues being the explicit goals. Changing the eligibility and application requirements for foodstamps, Medicaid, and other welfare programs comes to mind. They could remove regulations so there are fewer government employees required to verify compliance. Require certifications for government employees that they don’t have and so they are no longer qualified for their jobs. Remove regulatory burdens from businesses to attract them to the state. There’s lots of stuff they could do without the Dems present, and they should get cracking.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.