Posted on 02/17/2011 2:54:47 PM PST by tobyhill
just got off the phone with Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson, one of the Democrats who has left the capitol in order to stall the GOP's plan to rolll back the bargaining rights of public employees. Speaking to me by cell phone from an undisclosed location, Larson said he and his fellow Democrats would not return until the GOP takes its assault on organizing rights "off the table."
"Each of us is in a secure location," he told me, confirming that they were not all together but were monitoring events on the Web and on Twitter. Larson refused to say whether he and his fellow Dems had left the state, as some have speculated.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
I just called and they aren’t there.
Declare the seats vacant if they aren't back for the opening of the Senate tomorrow, and let the courts figure it all out years down the road. If a judge decides for an injunction, just ignore it like Obama is doing regarding his unconstitutional HC bill.
Actually, it’s simply that there has to be a quorum of 20 (given the current number of legislators). There are only 19 GOPers. There are far fewer Dems, but if there is not at least one of them at the vote, there won’t be a quorum.
lol, now that would be funny. Hold elections for “scabs” or “replacements”. I am sure there would be candidates who would step forward.
Just wait them out. I don’t see the problem here. They going to sit out the entire session?
I recall a radio interview with a Republican Texas state senator, many years ago; when the GOP senators were hiding out, to stop passage of some bill. The reclusive Senator was asked whether he feared the voters would punish him, at the next election. He replied (in a thick drawl): “the only way a sitting Texas Senator won’t be reelected; is if he’s caught in bed with a live man, or a dead woman”. The (female) interviewer sputtered and stammered, but was otherwise rendered speechless.
Yes, apparently, they need 20 people.
There are only 19 Repubs.
*******************
“Deem and pass” a change in quorum rules.
;)
Some enterprising private citizens need to go taze them, throw them in vans, and dump their tied-up, beaten, bodies on the floor of the house so a vote can be taken.
The rules are typically set up this way so that majority rule cannot dominate - only supermajority rules. Which is fine. When Republicans were in the minority, it kept some really nasty Democrat hanky panky from happening.
Yet, to my knowledge, I’ve never seen a Republican caucus go AWOL to prevent a vote from happening. Only Democrats apparently do that.
In Illinois.
Hmm.... what would a real President do?
Popcorn, I am going to need to stock up on popcorn.
It seems that some are having trouble adjusting to their leaders dream/promise of “Redistributing the Wealth”.
It is times like this that makes me wish I had learned how to brew my own beer. LMAO
are their similar rules for congress? and if so why didn’t the Republicans just walk out of the lame duck session?
“GOP senators were hiding out”
I am fairly certain that was the Democrats, and it was two years ago.
The “he’s caught in bed with a live [boy’, or a dead woman” quote was about the Governor of Louisiana, many years ago.
There must be one Democrat present for the vote. That’s why they all left town.
I do hope the Republicans planned for something like this and have an effective response, even if it’s just a PR battle. Common guys, you can’t win a war without strategy and planning, not to mention backbone.
This has to be an actionable situation, otherwise, the legislature is paralyzed. I hope the Repubs find a loophole.
Is there a statute in Wisconsin that declares a political office ‘abandoned’? That needs to be pursued. If they don’t show up for a number of days, they’ve abandoned their office, and they should hold special elections to fill vacant seats.
That could be like a citizen’s arrest.
Sounds good to me. Might even be an option, seeing the police can’t find them yet. I wonder how hard they are trying to do their job? Police are unions too.
Or just put a hold on their paychecks until the socialist rats show up. I don't know how much the demoRAT senators get paid or what their per diem is, but I would hope that Gov Walker & the state AG would just freeze any paychecks going to these traitors. Plus fine them $100 per day that they are missing from the WI senate.
I am with KMTV news and am en route with a camera crew. I would prefer not to embarrass you upon my arrival, but I assure you I will turn your location into a circus with a few phone calls, now do you still say they are not there?
After a brief silence, I was told they were instructed to not transfer calls and the phone hung up.
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