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 ...
I agree and its why I’ll never be a governor. The floors would be covered with the tears and quite likely blood of these thugs and scum.
:)
gettin harder to listen to Barry Young for me....today he was all over our state senator and fluffs McLettuce and I’m a Flake........
Ironically, the last people who care about another $165 million cost to taxpayers is the parasite class, and, of course, the parasite class is the Democrat party “base”. I don’t think this warning will get the elected rats back to their jobs. What do they or their voters care?
How so? How many dems have returned? Did the vote take place? How much has been cut from the budget?
“Imagine if he would do so stating that “the seats *ARE* vacant because their duly elected representation have fled the state.”
30 days is the limit I believe.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/02/two_solutions_to_the_wisconsin.html
Can WI get some more state senators if the AWOL Democrats, um, EXPIRE in office?
That is even better!
I just think of how I would deal with my kids on certain things when they were little, and there are a couple things that would work without a direct threat.
Not sure if that would be a budget item or not. If they declared to use the funds that would have paid the teachers now fired and the net result is 0...it may work. Or do it be executive order since the state if failing to educate the children since the teachers are on an illegal strike.
That's exactly what he should do. Walker should sign a decree declaring a state of emergency and that the absent Dems have abdicated their positions. He could then call special elections as well as cut off their credit cards.
“They have been working via the phone and offering amendments via the phone. “
If this is the case, it would appear that a quorum is “electronically” present. Hold the vote.
It seems to me that unless there is something in the statute that says that they must be physically present in that particular place to vote, they could be considered “attending” electronically. But maybe not; I don’t know.
Still, it’s odd that they can do all these other things by phone.
Wisconsin needs to pass similar legislation, effective immediately. Let them get a better taste of what those of us who pay their salaries know.
You heard wrong.
No State may declare bankruptcy, period.
I imagine that would be a “nuclear option” that should be reserved as a last resort. Credit rating and all that, I would worry that that solution would be more dangerous.
I wonder what the WI senate rule is for declaring a quorum? Could they change it to say elecontronic contact can be considered as available...as long as they have the means to vote it’s good to go.
If so just change the rule and then vote already. I think Walker wants to drag this out to keep the public against the unions and make it easier for him to get what he wants. Which I’m good with that, but it does appear as if there are several work-arounds to this problem (like just vote on the non budget union stuff today). Maybe he really doesn’t want to restructure the debt and just push the problem to a future generation and would rather deal with it by cutting today’s spending. This way he can blame the unions and the rats (and right-fully so).
You're right Art 4, Sec 14 of the WI Constitution:
The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.
Punishment: fine them 100% of prorated salary for every day AWOL.
well said.....I miss Bruce Jacobs
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