Posted on 02/28/2011 9:04:47 AM PST by fightinJAG
Reuters) - Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker said on Monday that absent senate Democrats have 24 hours to return and vote on a measure to reduce the power of public sector unions or the state will miss out on opportunity to refinance its debt.
"Now they have one day to return to work before the state loses out on the chance to refinance debt, saving taxpayers $165 million this fiscal year," Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie said in a statement.
"Failure to return to work and cast their votes will lead to more painful and aggressive spending cuts in the very near future," the statement said.
Walker's budget proposal has sparked nationwide protests from labor unions who fear it could be a harbinger of things to come in other states. To balance the state's budget, Walker wants to require public sector employees to pay more for pensions and health care, and to strip their unions of bargaining rights except for wages up to the rate of inflation.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
This whole Wisconsin business, plus what’s going on in DC, has made me rethink the secession of the Confederate States back in 1861. I’m starting to think more like them.
Is the federal union worth it?
How many states would do so much better on their own, or in a confederacy with like-minded states?
It’s a-brewin’.
That's good news - I hope its so, and they pass similar legislation while the Demorats are shirking their sworn duty.
It’s time to put the hammer and sickle down!!
Making taxpayers foot the bill for union worker benefits isn't a RIGHT you idiot community organizer.
Not hardcore enough to suit me, but an improvement.
Speaking of abandonment of office, what’s happening with Giffords? Anybody know? When does the time come that her office is considered “abandoned”? I know she’s not a vegetable, but will she ever return to congress?
Yeah but....if they held the vote, the rats would return with the idea they would take it to court. Once they returned, there’d be a quorum. The senate could then, through parliamentary procedures, declare the prior vote taken in error, observe there is a quorum, and vote again.
Fire them now, THEN they can try bargaining to get their jobs back.
I wish Walker would quit yapping and just pull the trigger. FIRE THE TEACHERS if they won’t return to work and become a national hero.
I’m starting to think his spine is receding and he’ll cave.
I have been wondering the same
You do realize in the real world of WI law he can’t do such a thing. These fools were elected just like he was. The voters will have to get rid of them.
It almost makes me believe America isn't done for.
Of course the public employ unions castrated his replacement with over $100,000,000 in ads. At election time they outspent reformers 10-1 on paycheck protection (require permission from members before spending dues on politics) and ending pensions, moving to a system of 401(k) plans.
I can't imagine how much less screwed CA would be if Arnold's "year of reform" proposals were approved in '05.
Exactly.
The legislature has the power and authority to compel attendance of its members:
Article IV, §7
Organization of legislature; quorum; compulsory attendance. Section 7. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide.
The issue is that only the Senate sergeant-at-arms technically has the authority to compel a senator to return - they are otherwise privileged from arrest for any crime except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, and the Senate republicans thus far have not mustered the guts to request that the sergeant-at-arms attempt to bring one of them in in handcuffs.
I found this news article, so am posting a link. I also think her position might be covered by FECA [Federal Employees Compensation Act] meaning this might be considered an on the job injury.
I answered my own question.
In case others haven’t already done this, some context is required. Wisconsin has 5.6 million people. So this costs a family of four on average $120.
Considering that a huge chunk of the population pays no taxes at all, the average family of 4 TAXPAYING families is footing a much higher bill.
“Won’t the Dem senators have to pay taxes to the state of Illinois for the days they are spending there?”
You can’t drive five feet in that wretched place without finding a toll booth.
His numbers have gone up over the past two weeks. I’d say it’s working.
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